Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will [do it].

Psalm 37:5

If you have read my account of the wedding-hall collapse in Jerusalem, you already know "what is Pal-Kal." In the early 1980's someone (who is now in prison) developed a flooring method much lighter in weight than the traditional heavy flooring that separated stories in tall buildings. Soon engineers deemed it unsafe, and by 1996 it was no longer legal.

In 1984 there was a new building in downtown Jerusalem that we were interested in, as a congregational home. We wanted to purchase a section of the second and third floors, and we were pretty sure that we could raise the money. So our colleague, Jim went to Canada and after visiting one congregation, found a single donor who was willing to foot the bill. That was the easiest fund-raising campaign I ever heard of! So Jim came back and we put the wheels of purchase into motion. But at the last minute, the donor was hindered from giving the gift. Game over.

We accepted this outcome as God's way of stopping us. For the next twenty years we enjoyed the main auditorium of the beautiful YMCA as our meeting place. It was a lesson to us that we don't need buildings and high budgets, to build a living organism of a body of believers!

Later around the year 2000 another beautiful building caught our attention. The place was for sale, but so many obstacles came up that it didn't seem right to pursue it.

Then in 2002, we came upon an old abandoned theatre in the Center of Jerusalem. It was in a shabby and neglected building, even though it stands on one of the main town squares. We immediately saw it through eyes of faith, that this whole building would turn around for God's glory. It did, but that's another story!

Engineers confirmed what we suspected - this place was a brick! My husband thought of a scripture, "For he will hide me in his [pavilion] in the day of trouble, he will conceal me under the cover of his tent . ." (Psalm 27:5) We acquired that place, called it The Pavilion, and it has since been transformed from a shrine to Hollywood to a temple of worship, proclamation, and prayer!

A few months later we noticed signs on the original building we wanted in 1984. "Entrance forbidden - dangerous!" The place had been condemned! Also the other building we saw in 2000 was still unoccupied. Why? They had been constructed using Pal-Kal! Isn't it awesome that God protected us from buying those places!

God will protect you, too, from the "Pal-kal" hazards in your life! Just don't force open any doors that He seems to be closing!

Thank you, Lord, for stopping us when we are in peril. We are like sheep, quite stupid at times, but because you know everything, teach us to follow you, commit our ways to you, and watch you turn it all to good!