The Eagle's Eye Podcast: Recent Episodes
David Soakell
UK Liaison Officer for CFI & media correspondent. Keen photographer Podcaster & fan of @NorwichCityFC
Welcome back to the Eagles Eye Podcast, episode 58, and part two of Chanukah. As mentioned in my last Episode 57 of the Eagles Eye podcast Chanukah 2025 started last Sunday evening, 14 December, and ends on Monday, 22 December. Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and special foods. The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. But there is so much more...
Episode 57 of the Eagles Eye podcast : Chanukah 2025 started last Sunday evening, 14 December, and ends on Monday, 22 December. Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and special foods. The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. But there is so much more...
I was recently inspired by the Scriptures in I Kings chapters 17, 18 and 19. I’m sure we all know of the story of Moses in Exodus 33, when he climbed Mount Sinai (also known as Mount Horeb, the Mountain of God – 1 Kings 19:8). Another Scripture every Christian must know is from I Kings 19:11-12, where Elijah experiences a strong wind; an earthquake; a fire, and then a ‘still small voice’. But what was Elijah doing in this place?” And how can we enter into God's presence? How can we seek His face, touch His grace, in the cleft of the Rock?
Ever since the Islamic Terrorist group Hamas attacked, raped, killed and kidnapped women, children, babies, grandmothers - even Holocaust survivors, and Israel were forced to take action, the world has changed. This has indeed been a very tough seven months. Here i take a personal look at this, and pose some very serious points that need to looked into.
These are indeed dark days, and as we watched in horror, the civilian population of Israel being targeted by Hamas terrorism, and innocent civilians on both sides are being killed and traumatised (however, one has to question as to how many Gazan civilians are being killed by their own people, as many of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad rockets have failed and exploded in Gaza).I have been reporting on (and often from within Israel) issues relating to Israel for the past 28 years. Hamas have bombed Israel now for over 16 years. But what we witnessed on the 7th of October 2023, on Shabbat and Simchat Torah, in which more Jews were killed in a single day since the Shoah (Holocaust), left me (and any other decent civilian) sickened to the core. These evil hideous attacks are unforgivable. Hamas invaded Israel, killed, raped, and kidnapped Israeli children, women and grandmothers, and bombarded Israel with Iranian backed rockets, which even hit as far as Jerusalem.We knew that as soon as Israel rightly responded, the western world would condemn Israel, yet even I have been shocked at the sickening sight of these hate marches and the ‘hate speech’ from the Palestine Solidarity groups. One has to wonder what it will take to get the woke world to ‘get real’ and ‘wake up to how evil Islamic terrorism is’? So are we getting the full picture of this issue? In this podcast I look at some passages of Scripture, and compare them to todays situation.
Jenin and Journalism, where facts and context evaporate:
On July 3rd, 2023, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) launched what it described as a ‘contained and precise operation’ to foil very active terrorist activity in the Jenin area, which consisted of surprise attacks on terrorist infrastructure in what the world calls the ‘West Bank’ city of Jenin. This is an area that has been dubbed the Arab Palestinian “terror capital.”
But what is the truth and context behind what we are witnessing in Jenin? But why now, and why has Israel appeared to go into this with more force than usual? Find out in this episode of The Eagle's Eye Podcast.
After a few months away, I was finally inspired to recreate a podcast that really spoke to some folks recently. Climbing mountains is never easy, but the climb, no matter how tough, is worth it, when you get to the peak and see the amazing views. Life, health, and faith are often like that mountain climb. But can we really face the questions everyone wants to ask, but feel they can't? And will we find any answers?
All over the world in 2022, there are many people who do not enjoy freedom. All over the Middle East, and other areas of the world, Christians in particular, suffer great persecution because of their faith in Jesus (Yeshua). And all over the world the Jewish people too have suffered much persecution – just look at the Holocaust as one example – and today, we are living in an age when antisemitism is as high as it was in the 1930s.
The Human Rights Watch have produced a 42-page guide regarding the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022. But with Qatar having such bad human rights issue, should Qatar be even hosting the Fifa World Cup? With Iran's threats of nuclear war and thousands of Iranian's interrogated, unfairly prosecuted solely for peacefully exercising their human rights, and hundreds remained unjustly imprisoned, should England be playing Iran in the World Cup? In this 50th episode of The Eagle's Eye Podcast, I invite our son Matthew to discuss these issues.
What is the Hebrew month of Cheshvan? What can we learn from this month that will help stop burnout? When we examine the horrendous state of of world, how can we gain peace? And what has any of this got to do with Noah?
Noah’s absolute faith in God, which resulted in uncompromising obedience, was the reason he was able to truly enter a place of blessed rest. In fact, the name Noah, or Noach in Hebrew, means rest. He was not a man who “leaned on his own understanding” of a situation but trusted wholeheartedly in the Word of the Lord and obeyed.
In today's world, it must get to a point when one has to simply “stop”… and stand still before man’s Creator… just for a moment, just to bask in the light and the depth of that connection… and in many ways, I feel we miss that. I guess that is why God ordered us a Shabbat rest.
Over the High Holy Days (September/October) Israel has been celebrating the three Biblical Feasts - Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur and Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles). All these are Torah-commanded holidays. However, as I was reading sections of the book of Genesis, I really felt the Lord lay an issue on my heart regarding the promises of God to Israel, and how they respond to His calling.
The passages I'm concentrating on (along with others) are Genesis 28:10-17; Genesis 31:43-54; John 1:43-51, and Genesis 32:4-31.
Hope you get something from this.
Shavuot 2022 (Pentecost)will begin in the evening of Saturday, 4 June and ends in the evening of Monday, 6 June 2022. As you listen to this podcast -The Shavuot Wind Revisited, please cry out to the LORD God that Israel would experience a mighty move of the power of the Holy Spirit throughout her Land over this period and pray that both Israel and the Church would desire a move of the Lord God in these days.
For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. (Psalm 132:13-16)
On Wednesday May 4, 2022 Israel remembered her fallen soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks. On Thursday, we remember Yom Ha'atzma’ut (Independence Day) - which celebrates the Declaration of Independence of Israel which was first read on 14th May 1948 by David Ben Gurion. Pray that the nation would have a clear vision of what God has called them to be, and that the strong resolute spirit of the Jewish people would enable them to see the Lord God at work within them.
What was the bush that Moses saw burning and why did it attract such curiosity from Moses? And can we learn anything from this ancient Biblical story? This is the theme of this Eagle’s Eye podcast, episode 45. Hope you enjoy this, and that it speaks to you.
One of the Hebrew words that is translated “to refresh” or “to be refreshed” is naphash. It means to breathe or to be breathed upon. So… why not ‘take a breath… maybe this Shabbat, put away your projects, your worries, and cares, even your mobile phones, laptops, and breathe... enjoy!
We all remember where we were and what we were doing on 11 September 2001. The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington marked a turning point in world politics and shook NATO to its core. Less than two hours after being hit by the planes, the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York collapsed, one after the other - leaving massive clouds of dust and debris. But what impact does this have on today's youth? And what of people born post 9/11? Twenty years later, these are my thoughts and this is my story of how I will never forget this day.
In this podcast, I try to look at some of the tough questions you have asked me to cover. According to the Bible, we are all selfish and fail God every day because ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23) – so we mess up daily and in which case there appears to be little hope for anyone... or is there? Why should God hold out the hand of grace to one and not the other? Are we really so self-centred that while we see horror stories unfolding in volumes that we never expected; and we see earthquakes, tsunamis, massive floods, terrorist attacks, wars and more… we can still eat our evening meals whilst watching all this on TV? Have we really become desensitised? And if so, what hope is there for any of us? There are many questions we face every day, and you have emailed me many. So let's hope we might find some answers. [All music licensed to David P Soakell]
The 4th of July - American Independence Day, is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches, and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States.
The Fourth of July has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. The 4th of July is also a very special date for my family and me, but it has nothing to do with American Independence... to find out why this date is special, check out episode 41 of The Eagle's Eye Podcast here.
Do you wrestle with life? 🤔 📌Do you try to come to terms with the demands of life? 📌And are you too like Jacob in the Scriptures, as he too wrestled with the whole issues of God? And what of Israel? What of the current cancel culture? What of the spirit of lawlessness on our streets that we are witnessing? Something is happening... A stirring…
It says in Proverbs 20:5 - “the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” Something is happening in our world at this time, and as Believers in the Lord, we need to have the waters of our soul stirred - because there is a staring in the deep waters - something is happening… find out in Episode 40 of this Podcast.
The situation in Israel as I’m recording this podcast, is very serious as over 3,300 rockets have been fired from Hamas Terrorists in Gaza at Israel this past week. The last time I experienced this was recorded in my short movie at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14KKAa_lmtI&t=555s
However, this weekend, Shavuot (Pentecost) will begin in the evening of Sunday, 16 May 2021. As you listen to this podcast, please cry out to the LORD God that Israel would experience a mighty move of the power of the Holy Spirit throughout her Land over this period and pray that both Israel and the Church would desire a move of the Lord God in these days.
On Friday, April 30, 2021, a tragedy happened as tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish people had gathered for the annual Lag B'Omer celebrations at the Galilee tomb of Shimon Bar Yochai, a second-century Rabbi, in northern Israel. Sadly, 45 people were killed, and over 150 injured. But why did this happen, and why were they there?
It is written, “Comfort, comfort My people, says your God... (Isaiah 40 v1), and for sure, it is the right thing to mourn with those who mourn, and we are deeply saddened by the tragic recent events that happened at Mount Meron in Israel. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. This podcast looks at this event and asks questions with the hope of finding answers.
Here is a podcast from the heart.
In this Eagle's Eye Podcast, Episode 37 – entitled 'Hinei Ma Tov' - I look at Psalm 133. How can this short Psalm not only speak to us but bless us - if we put it into practice?
Here, I look at the human heart. The issue of black and white; Jew and Muslim, and how we respond to terrorist attacks. I also share my thoughts on an amazing statement by Peter Rollins, a Christian teacher, who once got slated for stating, "I deny the resurrection of Christ." But what was at the heart of his message? Please do not just read this description. Listen to the full podcast to the end... then comment! David Soakell
“Without equivocation or hesitation I fully and completely admit that I deny the resurrection of Christ. This is something that anyone who knows me could tell you, and I am not afraid to say it publicly, no matter what some people may think…
I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I do not serve at the feet of the oppressed, each day that I turn my back on the poor; I deny the resurrection of Christ when I close my ears to the cries of the downtrodden and lend my support to an unjust and corrupt system.
However there are moments when I affirm that resurrection, few and far between as they are. I affirm it when I stand up for those who are forced to live on their knees, when I speak for those who have had their tongues torn out, when I cry for those who have no more tears left to shed.” ― Peter Rollins
What is the Sovereignty of God? And can we get our heads around this huge subject? God’s sovereignty is His right and power to do all that He decides to do. Job 42:2 states: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” The sovereignty of God means the supremacy of God and the kingship of God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that God is "God". So to say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is "The Governor among the nations" (Psalm 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleases Him best. To say that God is sovereign is to accept that even when one doesn’t understand why, God can choose a people – the Jewish people as His own, and choose to rebirth the Jewish State of Israel – simply because HE CAN! But does this sit well with your understanding of how you see God? Find out more in Episode 36 of The Eagle's Eye Podcast
Symptoms of depression include feeling unhappy or hopeless, low self-esteem and finding no pleasure in things you usually enjoy. Treatment for depression usually involves a combination of lifestyle changes, talking therapies and medicines. Many things can cause depression such as stressful events, personality, family issues, work, death of loved ones, and so much more. But what about people with a strong faith? Can we also suffer from depression, and if so, is there a way to deal with it?
The short interview in this podcast is courtesy of Mind. Their website is: https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Mind helplines can be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/
Music in this podcast is licensed to me, David Soakell, except for the end song which is Lauren Daigle's 'Rescue'. (Lauren Daigle/Jason Ingram/Paul Mabury. CCLI. 7117256. Song ID. 5012. Copyright. 2018.) To purchase this go to her website or click here: https://laurendaigle.lnk.to/LookUpChild Her website is: https://laurendaigle.com/
"The International Criminal Court (ICC) refuses to investigate brutal dictatorships like Iran and Syria, who commit horrific atrocities almost daily. And yet, the ICC has ruled that its "jurisdiction" extends to territories liberated by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, clearing the way for its chief prosecutor to open war crimes probes into Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its presence in Judea and Samaria. So why are they turning on Israel, and likewise, why do the United Nations continually throw false accusations against the only Jewish state in the world - even claiming the Temple Mount in Jerusalem has nothing to do with the Jewish people? And what effect would this have upon the worldwide church? Find out in this podcast
This is the final part (part 4) of 'Light in the Darkness'. We pick up from where we left off last week, where in Ezekiel 37, God shows the prophet a valley of dry bones. Could this really be depicting the Holocaust? And if so, what about the teaching the church applies to itself? In verse 11 we read, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is gone…” In Hebrew, Hatikvah (The Israel national anthem) means “the hope”. Can any hope come from the Holocaust?
Also, is there a connection to Holocaust Memorial Day and the festival of Tu BiShvat (New Year for Trees) which just so happened to begin in Israel on the same day - Wednesday, 27 January 2021. Tu Bi'Shvat (Hebrew: ט״ו בשבט) is a Jewish holiday, occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat and is mentioned in the Mishnah. Find out more about this miracle of Israel's new life in this podcast.
This is part three of 'Light in the Darkness'. After a very successful Holocaust Memorial Day event, of which CFI put an online event on YouTube on 24th January 2021 - which is available to watch here: https://youtu.be/mUlpeLYCRr4, I look back at various issues relating to this, and for the need for light to break through the darkness of today's world.
"This is what the LORD says: "Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing. There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you. But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,declares the LORD,because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares" (Jeremiah 30:12, 13, 17). Among other areas of the event, I also include part of the work of CFIs dedicated 'Forsake Them Not team' that reaches out with love and compassion to Holocaust Survivors who have suffered so much. You too can help by clicking here: https://www.cfi.org.uk/by-supporting-projects?viewproject=23
This is part two of Light in the Darkness. As we prepare for Holocaust Memorial Day, of which CFI are putting on an online event on YouTube on 24th January 2021 at 7pm (click here for the link to watch this on the 24th of January and after: https://youtu.be/mUlpeLYCRr4), I will be looking at various issues relating to this, and for the need for light to break through the darkness of today's world, especially with the Covid plague still forcing lock down.
This is part one of Light in the Darkness. As we prepare for Holocaust Memorial Day, of which CFI are putting on an online event on YouTube on 24th January 2021 at 7pm - see full details here: https://www.cfi.org.uk/downloads/HMD-Flyer2021v5.pdf - I will be looking at various issues relating to this, and for the need for light to break through the darkness of today's world, especially with the Covid plague still forcing lock down.
I was reminded recently of a word Lance Lambert once brought that stated, "We need to be overcomers…. Overcoming is to so discover the grace of God and the power of God made available to you and me, that we stay on course in spite of our faults and weaknesses, even our sin - and come finally to the place where we are no longer Jacob but Israel. Overcoming is when we are still in the race at the end." So even with all these difficult issues we are facing with this Coronavirus issue, let us press on and be overcomers, and be sure we are still in the race at the end.
This is part two of a special two-week Chanukah podcast, and it will be my last podcast of 2020 - see you in the new year!
📌But how much do you know about Chanukah? 📌Why is it celebrated by the Jewish people? 📌What’s the story behind it? 📌Did you know the dynasty that began with a family known as the Maccabees greatly influenced the nation of Israel for several centuries - even touching the lives of Jesus and the apostles? 🕎The story of Chanukah and the Maccabees speaks of a light breaking through the darkness. But in this second part, we also look at Jesus at Chanukah, and the issue of covid and mental health.
Chanukah begins in the evening of Thursday, 10th December and ends in the evening of Friday, 18th December 2020. So, in this podcast I'm sharing part one of a special two-week Chanukah podcast. But how much do you know about Chanukah? Why is it celebrated by the Jewish people? What’s the story behind it? Did you know the dynasty that began with a family known as the Maccabees greatly influenced the nation of Israel for several centuries - even touching the lives of Jesus and the apostles? The story of Chanukah and the Maccabees speaks of a light breaking through the darkness. So here begins a story…
Walking through the Yad Vashem's Children's Holocaust Memorial museum in Jerusalem, Israel, brought a very difficult discovery for me regarding our name. But are names important? And if names are important, then by changing names in the Bible, are we distorting the message? To watch an accompanying short video to this podcast, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4vMnVbc_ms&t=10s
So... we are back in lockdown in England, and this plague isn't going away anytime soon. But where are we in the days leading up to Biblically fulfilled prophecies? Are we really in the "End Days"? The Biblical Church in Paul's days thought they were in the "Last Days'. Was the Church thinking they were in the "End Days" during the Spanish Flu in 1920? What about during WW1 or WW2? And what of the Middle East with Israel? What of the alleged "Peace Plans"? What of Hamas and Hezbollah and the Palestinian Authorities? And are we in the days of approaching Chariots of Fire?
Seven Reasons on Why Israel: 1) Jesus’ Disciples were concerned... So shouldn’t we? - Acts 1:6-7 2) God is concerned over the nation of Israel - Jeremiah 31:35; Psalm 105:8-11. 3) God Commands us to uphold Israel’s capital in prayer - Psalm 122 4) God is faithful to His Word ~ He keeps His promises - Isaiah 11:11-12 5) The evangelical Church pre 1948 were very concerned about the restoration of Israel: The modern State of Israel is a culmination of a vision for the restoration of the Jewish people to their Biblical homeland which had developed in the Church in Great Britain over the previous three hundred years. 6) It is not for Israel’s sake, but for the hallowing of God’s Holy Name... - Ezekiel 36: 1 to 38 7) God's Name -YHWH (Yahweh - יהוה ) is written in the topography of the Land of Israel at Shilo/Bethel.
To understand this difficult issue, one has to first understand a little bit about the heartbeat of God and of God’s covenant relationship regarding this controversial subject. I’d like to look at the issue of “Why Israel?” In doing so, I’d like to deal with, and hopefully answer a few of the common questions I’m often asked, such as: “What do you think about what is happening in the Middle East with the Arab/Israeli issue?”
Why is this one nation, located on a tiny sliver of land along the Mediterranean Coast, so much in the news these days? And what do current events concerning Israel have to do with the promised return of Yeshua (Jesus) and the prophetic plans of God for Israel and for our world? As Christians, should we really be bothered about this tiny nation, thousands of miles away in the Middle East? Find out more in this podcast.
Episode 23 Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) - To Walk With God
The word for 'winter' in the Scriptures is the Hebrew word ‘setav’. Setav means the season of hiding or the time of darkness… Nisan [in the Spring] however, is the month that ends the season of darkness, that breaks the death of winter. Nisan is the month when the earth again bears its fruit, and its flowers again begin to blossom. Nisan is the month of new life… Messiah's coming is our Nisan, that which ends the winter of our lives and begins the spring of our lives.” As I reflected on this, I pondered, as a nation, as ‘the world’, and even with our own walk of faith, where are we actually at? Could this Covid 19 be ‘the winter of our lives?’ ‘The season of our darkness?’ ‘The time of our hiding?’ ‘The days of living in the shadows... the season of our barrenness... when our life can't bear the fruit it was meant to bear?’ Or could it be a time for us to pursue with renewed passion, a deeper walk with God?
In Genesis 5:24 we read, ‘Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.’ In Genesis 6:9, we read, ‘Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God…’ Both Enoch and Noah walked with God… or alternatively, they ‘tabernacled’ with God.
The Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated as outlined in Leviticus 23:33-43. So how do we 'walk with God this Sukkot?' Find out in this podcast.
It's Rosh Hashanah... otherwise known as 'The Jewish New Year'. But can the church learn anything from this wonderful festival? This holiday is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25 and the shofar (a ram's horn) is blown at this time of the year.
It is believed that on Rosh Hashanah the destiny of all mankind is recorded by God in the Book of Life. After Rosh Hashanah services, as the congregants leave the synagogue, they say to each other... "May you be inscribed in the Book of Life".
Thinking of the Book of Life, perhaps we should also think in relation to God’s book ~ the Word of God ~ The Bible. Is this inscribed in our lives? And if not, how can we do this? There is so much more than meets the eye regarding this festival... Find out more in Episode 22 here.
Three times God had laid Israel on my heart, and three times I'd thrown it back in His face. No one but me (and God of course) knew this. Three times I'd told God, “I don’t want it… give it to someone else!”
However, once I'd agreed that obedience was better than running away, the Lord soon enabled all that Julia and I were doing in the North of England to blossom and grow.
In many ways it is like how the cogs on a clock work. Put the correct cogs in place; use the machinery in the right way, and soon the whole thing comes together. Once you are in the place that God wants you to be, things run much easier... or do they? Find out more in episode 21...
Back in 1995 God spoke to me clearly in two ways. The first was when I cried out to God as Israel had been suffering terrorist attacks from Islamic extremists. The front page of the Daily Telegraph had a photo of an Orthodox Jew holding his small child in his arms – however the child was dead due to being caught up in a terrorist attack. I can remember being so shocked, knowing this child wasn’t any bigger than our son at the time. “Why God” I cried… “Why didn’t you spare this child, and why isn’t anyone standing in the gap for Your people.” Well, I could almost hear God tapping His fingers on His throne as He said, “But I called you and you haven’t listened to My call.”
Oh boy… I can’t describe the feelings deep within… sorry doesn’t come in to it. Then, a man knocked on our door telling me to “Repent”. The man said, “David, repent… for three times God has laid Israel on your heart, and three times you have thrown it back in His face. Stop complaining and repent and do what God has asked of you.”
Doing what you should be doing isn't always the easiest thing to do... and God might have to drive you into a barren, dry place, so He can to speak to you. But know for sure, the Wilderness is a place where God trains His special forces. In Episode 20, I attempt to tell it as it was... and still is. The footprints in sand have be made... 🥾🥾The journey continues...
What might you expect to find in the wilderness?
Throughout the Bible, the wilderness can function as an image of discord. In some ways, one would think that to end up in the wilderness means that one has a loss of control on your walk with God, and of separation from the safety of society. However this is not necessarily so. Sometimes God can lead you there for a purpose as indeed the Spirit of God led the Son – Yeshua – in the wilderness.
I remember at one point when I was in a deep spiritual wilderness. I felt little connection with God – which is not good when one is in full time ministry. I can remember at one stage in that strange place that my friend Werner Oder contacted me to ask how I was. I told him that I was struggling and in a wilderness, to which he replied, “Good… God trains His special forces in the wilderness.” And you know what… he was right! So let's go and visit the wilderness through episode 19 of these Eagle's Eye Podcasts.
The former Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion once stated back in 1956, “In Israel, in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.” I’ll be sharing much more on the issue of Israel in future podcasts, however, of all the nations in the world over time immemorial, Israel must have seen the most miracles.
But what exactly are miracles? Are they really an act of God to intervene on behalf of man, and if so, why do we only hear a few accounts of these ‘miracles’? If it is an act of God to help certain people, what about the thousands of people who could have been helped but haven’t been? What of all those children I witnessed who died through no fault of their own due to the AIDS crisis in Romania? What of people who have suffered terrible pain through the various cancers and died, being robbed of many years of their lives? I have even known Christians who have faithfully believed in this Almighty God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, who can heal, and had many other Christians praying for them, only for them to perish leaving nothing but unanswered questions.
What of the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust – simply for being ‘Jewish’ – couldn’t this God, the God of the Jews have saved them? And what of all those who lost their lives in the Twin Towers in New York on September 11, 2001? Where was God then? So how exactly can we have hope in the God of miracles - even in the hard times? Find out in this podcast as I wrestle with these tough issues.
It was the early '90's and the AIDS epidemic had took its toll on babies and young children in Romania. There could be no instant deliverance, despite the faithful work of charities such as ‘Romanian Children’s Aid’ (RCA) – a Christian based charity that I had agreed to be a volunteer as the co-Chairman of the UK North East, spending many months raising the much needed money with the precious people from St George’s Church and Christ Church in the outskirts of Middlesbrough.
On my second visit my co-driver and I drove over 3,200 miles to Cernavoda on the Black Sea coast. In 1992 the name had to be changed as the work extended the provision of relief to cover children in other Eastern Europe countries such as Albania.
Romanian Children’s Aid (Children in Distress) was founded by the Reverand Dr John Walmsley, a wonderful humble Church of England Vicar who simply responded to the tragic events within Romania. This man always inspired me. Despite the horror of what he had witnessed on his first trips to Romania, he always seemed to be positive, always smiling, as if to say someone much greater than him was at work in this ministry helping dying children – which of course was true. We will never understand why God allows suffering, but we can be sure He will always use people like the Reverand Dr John Walmsley to work through.
In 1992, I had the privilege to drive a truck all the way from Middlesbrough, via Essex, through Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary and into and through Romania. This was the second time I’d been to a small place called Cernavoda where we literally saw miracles take place.
The biggest shock was when we toured the Orphanages that spilled over with unwanted children, many plagued with AIDS or other serious medical ailments due to the re-use of syringes and the generally shoddy health conditions, along with the infected cheap blood that had been brought in from the Africa’s. The horrors that Ceausescu had left behind could not be quickly swept under the ‘proverbial carpet’. The physical and psychological damage was huge and widespread. This is part one of a true story that changed my life.
This is part 2 of The Russia House - podcast episode 15 of The Eagle's Eye Podcast.
It was 1989 and Moscow held an air of mystery over it with the underground metro stations looking like palaces, with beautiful ornate ceilings, marble everywhere and chandeliers so grand they wouldn’t look out of place in the finest stately home. The metro station was directly opposite to where we were staying, and these were used on a daily basis to get to our contacts. The only problem was, getting used to the system. It’s fine if one speaks Russian, but my Russian only consisted of да prounounced ‘da’ (yes), нет - pronounced nyet (no) and спасибо – pronounced ‘spasibo’ (thank you). That’s not a lot of use when one is wanting to get from Сокольническая to Таганско-Краснопресненская.
But we were here to smuggle Bibles to the true Church of Russia - the underground church were Believers were struggling against the backdrop of the Soviet Union Communist control.
In the 1980s, the Soviet Union was engulfed by a multitude of problems. The economy began to fall apart. To reform a broken Soviet Union, the democratisation of the Communist Party was promoted through Party Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of ‘perestroika’ and ‘glasnost.’
For me, Moscow held a mystical air over it with the underground metro stations looking like palaces, with beautiful ornate ceilings, marble everywhere and chandeliers so grand they wouldn’t look out of place in the finest stately home.
Praying silent prayers we approached the fearsome looking Russian customs, and I thought my heart was about to burst out of my chest. Naturally, we were posing as tourists, and once through the dreaded customs, we would distribute our Bibles to a secret network of couriers, who in turn took them round to various underground groups of believers.
The first time we went to Russia in 1989, soldiers guarded the main doors leading into the Cosmos hotel where we stayed on all of our trips to Russia. Just getting past these armed guards felt like I was living out some role in a crazy James Bond movie. And learning to meet total strangers who would be wearing a certain colours and holding a newspaper, just seemed crazy, and yet this actually happened... welcome to the Russia House...
Episode 13 is recorded by Branch FM Radio, and with their permission, the show with Michael Booth and CFI's David Soakell is added here on The Eagle's Eye Podcast.
In the show we discuss what CFI have been doing in 2020 - a year of perfect vision - and how we have not just coped, but excelled even through the Covid-19 plague.
Other topics covered include these 'Podcasts', Siyabonga, Norwich City, David Pawson, The Coronavirus problem, News from Israel, the political situation with the so-called West Bank and more.
Branch FM is a community radio station based in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England, which has operated since May 2007. It broadcasts on the 101.8 FM frequency, in the West Yorkshire, area on an OFCOM licence until 2017. It was one of the first Christian radio stations to be given a broadcast licence in the UK. Their website https://www.branchfm.com/
Christian Friends of Israel are are a non-denominational Christian organisation, seeking to bless both for Israel and the Church [Israel means the Jewish people, both inside the nation and in the Diaspora throughout the world. It also means the modern nation of Israel, which includes both Jews and Arabs, all precious to God]. CFI's website is https://www.cfi.org.uk/
In Jeremiah 6:14 we read, 'They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace. (15) Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the Lord. (16) Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.' In these days we need to see a 'wind of change'... in these days, we need to find rest for our souls... and in these days, we need to 'Bend the knee' but only to the One Whom should be worshipped!
In the Torah, in Genesis 24:27 we read ‘And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I am in The Way of The LORD. The LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.
I am in The Way of The LORD. By stating this, this servant of Abraham is declaring that he is a disciple of Abraham and is [walking] in the Way of the LORD.
So “Are we truly walking in The Way regarding our calling? Am I in The Way or am I [getting] in the way?
Show me The Way… (Part One)
Suddenly, after opening my Bible, God laid Israel upon my heart. Suddenly, all the stories that Dad used to say about our name being changed made sense. Suddenly the connection with Anne Frank was real, and suddenly I knew why those Jewish kids at Gateshead had such an impact upon me. And I knew God was laying on my heart a calling. And yet, deep down I knew that with this calling came a huge responsibility. And this was too much.
But can we hear God’s calling and still walk away? And when God calls, do we have a choice? Find out more in this Eagle's Eye Podcast - session 10.
In the 80’s, I had no idea of the Jewish connection to Gateshead, nor my past, nor what the future would entail. And so, there I was, in a quiet street in Gateshead and suddenly a bell went! I mean, literally… a bell started to ring. Suddenly, I felt as if I was in labour. Okay, I know, I’m a bloke… how can I know what being in labour is like. But these pains within my gut were real... I felt as if something moved within me, in the way a baby might turn in a pregnant mum-to-be. And I was so excited! Why was I so excited? It made no sense. Yet all the way home I was ‘buzzing’ with excitement. Was this a move of God within me? But hang on, I didn’t believe in God then... find out more, in episode nine of The Eagle's Eye Podcast.
The photo here is of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who died during the Holocaust. However she left her diary which tells her story. I read her diary at a very young age of 12 years old, and it changed my life... or at least, God used it to change my life. In this podcast, I ask the question "...was God showing me something deep in my soul? Was He uncovering the dust from a dark past? Was He preparing me for a future position?" Listen as I take you on a journey - a journey to 'Life' itself.
All music in this podcast is licensed to David P Soakell.
To watch the short video I took at Yad Vashem go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtzH-vUY0xo&t=9s
or at: https://www.david-soakell.com/helen-s-story-the-holocaust
To find out about the work I have been involved with for the past 25 years plus, click here https://www.cfi.org.uk/
For those listening to these podcasts in the UK who have never been further north than the infamous ‘Watford Gap’, life in the North isn’t grim at all, and though cobbled streets might be found – as indeed they are on the Champs-Élysées in Paris - flat caps and ferrets are about as popular as top hats and tails from Dickens’ era are today in London. Indeed, you may be surprised to learn that around 70 percent of the world's heather moorland is in the UK and the largest continuous expanse of moorland in England and Wales is in the North York Moors – where sheep can wander freely. With four national parks on our doorstep (The North York Moors, The Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland, and the Lake District) the Lord has indeed blessed us with beautiful scenery.For sheer scenic splendour (at least in my opinion), few places in England (or indeed the world) can measure up to the outlandishly beautiful Cumbrian Lake District.
Here in England's largest National Park, I simply love climbing Helvellyn. Indeed, I've climbed this more than a dozen times. The approach via Striding Edge is of course the classic approach, and I certainly feel it is the best. Whatever the conditions – and I have been up in scorching heat to thick snow - Striding Edge is impressive and I guess I do like a bit of scrambling to enliven a climb. So join me on my journey, as I continue to look at life through the 'Eagle's Eye'...
"They say Aslan is on the move. Perhaps he has already landed," whispered the Beaver. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delightful strain of music had just floated by. And Lucy? She got that feeling when you realise it's the beginning of summer. So, deep in the land of Narnia, the children set out on the most exciting and enchanting adventure ever written..." (From CS Lewis’ book The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - (ISBN: 9780007323128).
As a child, I grew up on C.S. Lewis' stories about the land of Narnia, and how the children found this land through a magical wardrobe. I can remember thinking, as a young boy, how exciting it would be to find a magical place like this and to be able to spend eternity in this wonderful place. Well, to my surprise I did. Huh? No? Really? Well tune in to this, episode 6 of my podcast, where I ask "Is The Lion on the move"?
In this week's episode I ask the question "What is in a name?" and look at the area of Banias in Israel which is situated roughly 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and at the foot of the long climb to Mount Hermon, Caesarea Philippi (Banias as it is known by today) is the location of one of the largest springs feeding the Jordan River. Over the Hellenistic and Roman periods, many pagan temples were built at this area. St. Peter literally stood in this place and made the declaration of the status of who Jesus was. This area known as Panias however was corrupted in the Arabic language to its modern name of Banias. The reason is quite simple: Formal or Classical Arabic does not have equivalent letter P, and so, the ‘P’ became a ‘’B’. An odd name to choose? Why? Well, find out by listening to this podcast.
'The Eagle & the Mezuzah'. Well we all know what an Eagle is... but what's the connection with this bird of prey and my family name? And what's the connection with a mezuzah? And what is a mezuzah anyway? Find out in this episode of the Eagle's Eye Podcast.
Thank you to all of you who have been listening to and following my personal new Podcasts, and I appreciate the very positive feedback I’ve received.
Episode 3 is here, and this is a special ‘Passover’ edition in which I will look at some areas of the Seder meal along with 'the meal covenant'. I hope you enjoy it.
You can also download these Podcasts in iTunes in the Podcast area.
Most of these podcasts are taken from a book I’m still trying to finish called, 'But Who Do You Say I Am?' However there is a lot of ‘ad-libbing’ that goes on too, of which I hope I won’t need to apologise for 😊.
These episodes are a journey into life itself and what that life entails for me. In many ways, it’s an autobiography, as I reflect on my life growing up in an industrial UK Northern town during the 1960's and 70s. However it is much more than that, as I try to wrestle with life; trying to come to terms with the demands of life and with the fact that like Jacob in the Scriptures, we all can wrestled with the whole issues of God.
Episode Two of my Podcast - The Eagle's Eye. In this edition we'll be entering into 'The secret place' Ohhhhhhhhhhh 🤔now where might that be? Well find out by clicking play.
David Soakell has been with a UK based and International ministry - Christian Friends of Israel (CFI) - since 1986, an Area Representative of CFI since 1995, and full-time with this ministry since 2001. Apart from his role as CFI-UK Liaison Officer, David is also part of the Media Department, writing the News Reports - Watching over Zion and is involved with the Social Media side of CFI for a worldwide audience.
In the late 1980s, David spent time with the Russian ‘Underground’ Churches in what was then the Soviet Union, and later spent over three years with Romanian Children’s Aid: helping children with AIDS in Romania. Since 1995 he has been working with Christian Friends of Israel, with what he and his family believe is God’s calling on their lives.
As a speaker/teacher, David has spoken throughout the UK and in various international Cities such as Moscow, Bucharest and Jerusalem. He blogs regular on his own Social Media Sites and has a YouTube channel along with a photographic website at david-soakell.com .
David has also authored a book compilation of songs and poems originally set to music called ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ , which try to reflect something of the horror of The Holocaust and beyond. These Podcasts are from his book, 'But Who Do You Say I Am?' It’s a journey into life itself and what that life entails for the author. In many ways, it’s an autobiography, as David reflects on his life growing up in an industrial UK Northern town during the 1960s and 70s. However it is much more than that as the author tries to wrestle with life; tries to come to terms with the demands of life and with the fact that like Jacob in the Scriptures, he too wrestled with the whole issues of God.