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THE ROOT OF ANTI-SEMITISM: WHY IT EXISTS

The word antisemitism means prejudice against or hatred of Jews (the Hebrew people.) “The term "Jew" is derived from the name of Jacob's fourth son, Judah--Yehudah, in the Hebrew. … In the 5th century BCE, the Kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyrian King Sennacherib, and the ten tribes were exiled and lost. The only remaining Israelites were the residents of the Kingdom of ancestry.”
(Chabad.org https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/640221/jewish/What-is-the-Meaning-of-the-Name-Jew.htm

Antisemitism is driven by the devil/satan/adversary/dragon/serpent/Lucifer, who was created by God as one of His angels. However, Lucifer wanted to be like God. (Is 14:12-14) Of course, no one is or can be like God. “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.” (Is 46:9) Consequently, Lucifer and his angels were cast out of heaven to the earth, (Rev 12:7-9) where he battles against the powers of God to this day. Scripture records his first appearance in the Garden of Eden, where he deceived Eve into eating the fruit of the tree from which God had forbidden her and Adam to eat. (Gen 3:1-6)

Fast forward a thousand plus years to the Sinai Desert, where Moses spoke to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (the Hebrew people) the words God had given him for them, before they were to enter the promised land. “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” (Deut 7:6)

Now let’s connect the dots:

Lucifer is against God……The Hebrew people are God’s chosen people……. Lucifer is against the Hebrew people.

Because God chose the Jewish people to be His own special people Lucifer has made it his life work to destroy them. We see it as an earthly battle. In reality it’s a battle in the heavenly realm. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12)

The following three men were driven by the devil to destroy the Jewish people.

Haman

“King Ahasuerus promoted Haman … and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.” (Esther 3:1) All the king’s servants bowed and paid homage to Haman, per the king’s command. Mordechai, a Jew, refused to do so. Haman was filled with wrath because of this. However, he wasn’t satisfied with punishing Mordecai only. He sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

Herod

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews?’ For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matt 2:1-2) The words of the wise men troubled Herod. He asked them to come back and tell him about the child, but the wise men were warned in a dream not to return to him. When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the wise men he had all the male children two years old and under who were in Bethlehem and in all of its districts put to death.

Hitler

In a speech to the German parliament in January 1939, Hitler stated that another world war will result in the elimination of Jews from Europe. In 1941, Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich and other leading German authorities reached the decision to physically annihilate the Jews of Europe.
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/adolf-hitler-key-dates?series=4

In the context of the economic depression of the 1930s, the Nazi Party gained popularity in part by presenting "Jews" as the source for a variety of political, social, economic, and ethical problems facing the German people. Inspired by Adolf Hitler's theories of racial struggle and the "intent" of the Jews to survive and expand at the expense of Germans, the Nazis, as a governing party from 1933-1938, ordered anti-Jewish boycotts, staged book burnings, and enacted anti-Jewish legislation. To justify the murder of the Jews both to the perpetrators and to bystanders in Germany and Europe, the Nazis used not only racist arguments but also arguments derived from older negative stereotypes, including Jews as communist subversives, as war profiteers and hoarders, and as a danger to internal security because of their inherent disloyalty and opposition to Germany.
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/antisemitism?series=30
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Feature Writer: K. Jones

OUR RESPONSE TO ANTI-SEMITISM Part 3 Posted 04 April 2023

ANTI-SEMITISM IN THE CHURCH

How far has the organized church (Christianity) come from its origin? The first believers in Jesus as the Messiah were the 12 apostles, along with many other disciples who followed Him when He was a human on this earth. Scriptures give us an insight into their gatherings, their teachings, their obedience to Jesus’ directions, their guidance through the Holy Spirit, and so much more. (See the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.) They were the beginning of what we now call ‘the church.’ These first believers were Jewish. We hope you were already aware of that, although this truth is not always emphasized in the organized church. Unfortunately, the organized church has not only omitted this truth in their teachings. They have also worked hard to eliminate the Jewish roots of Christianity. Let’s take a look at where the anti-Semitism started and move forward from there.

In our previous article entitled “Our Response to Anti-Semitism” we included the following information concerning the organized church’s moving away from its Jewish roots. “By the end of the first century C.E., however, as the church became increasingly Gentile in demographics and leadership, the fierce loyalty to the Holy Scriptures and to the Judaic faith which Jesus and the apostles taught and practiced was replaced by an inclination toward traditions of the Gentile cultures and religion of the Greco-Roman world.” (1) “Christianity was systematically excised from its Jewish roots, as one by one the church transplanted the teachings of Jesus in the foreign soil of human tradition. The final blow of the Greco-Roman axe which severed Christianity from the tap root of Judaism was wielded by Constantine the Great, pontifex maximus of Roman polytheism, when he arrogated to himself the headship of the church, enjoined the observance of Sunday as a day of worship in the Roman Empire, and outlawed any practice in the church which was obviously rooted in Judaism.” (2)

Fast forward to the beginning of the second millennium. The organized church, at this point it was the Catholic Church, decided to liberate the Holy Land from the “infidel” Muslims. There were multiple Crusades between A.D. 1095 and 1250. In the first Crusade the European Christian army, estimated in the hundreds of thousands, attacked the Jews in the Rhineland before targeting the Muslims in Jerusalem. (3) The second Crusade traveled through the Rhineland as well, where the Jews were targeted again. Once in Jerusalem the Crusade leaders went so far as to “replace” the Muslims with the Jews as the defiling enemy of Jerusalem.

The Catholic Church continued to persecute those who didn’t conform to their “Unam Sanctum,” their claim that the pope had absolute authority in the church. This eventually led to the Inquisition. “The Inquisition was a powerful office set up within the Catholic Church to root out and punish heresy throughout Europe and the Americas. Beginning in the 12th century and continuing for hundreds of years, the Inquisition is infamous for the severity of its tortures and its persecution of Jews and Muslims. Its worst manifestation was in Spain, where the Spanish Inquisition was a dominant force for more than 200 years, resulting in some 32,000 executions.” (4) King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain believed that the Jews who had converted to Christianity to avoid persecution were responsible for corruption in the Spanish Catholic Church. They formed the Inquisition, in which the Jews were forced into ghettos in order to be separated from the Christians. Thousands of Jews fled the country. Many that remained were tortured and burned at the stake. (5)

As if the Crusades and the Inquisition weren’t enough, Christians in England began an additional assault on the Jewish people – the Blood Libels. Supposedly, around Passover the Jewish people would kill a Christian boy and use his blood to bake matzah. If you know anything about Jewish dietary law, you know that it forbids consumption of blood in food, making these accusations patently false. The Blood Libels spread throughout Europe, and beyond, continuing even into the 21st Century. “A 2003 TV series broadcast in Syria and Lebanon based on The Protocols of the Elders of Zion (a fraudulent document purported to be a report of meetings held by the Jewish people planning to create a new world state) shows the Jewish people as engaging in a conspiracy to rule the world and presents Jews as a people who murder Christian children and drain their blood to bake matzah.” (6)

A few hundred years later a shift occurred in the “organized” church, commonly called the Protestant Reformation. “By the 15th century, corruption in the Church was widespread and devout believers sought to rectify this. The refusal of the Church to address these criticisms eventually led to the schisms that would establish Protestant Christian sects which developed into denominations such as Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, and others.” (7) Martin Luther, a German monk, was one of the central figures in the Reformation. Luther initially was kind toward the Jewish people, with the purpose of converting them to Christianity. When they refused to convert, he changed his ‘kindness’ to anti-Semitism, even to the point of writing a document entitled “On the Jews and Their Lies.” Here are excerpts from that document.

“And so, dear Christian, beware of the Jews . . . you can see how God’s wrath has consigned them to the Devil, who has robbed them not only of a proper understanding of the Scriptures, but also of common human reason, modesty and sense. . . . Thus, when you see a real Jew you may with a good conscience cross yourself, and boldly say, “There goes the Devil incarnate.” ” (8)

“What then shall we Christians do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews? … Their synagogues … should be set on fire and what does not burn must be covered over with earth so that no man will ever see stone or cinder of them again. Their houses also should be razed and destroyed… All their prayer books … should be taken from them.” (9)

Unfortunately, Luther’s words were embraced by Nazi Germany and used to support their desire to exterminate the Jewish people.

We need to revisit the beginnings of the organized church again to complete our discussion of anti-Semitism in the church. It is there that we find a belief that is still prevalent in the organized church – Replacement Theology. “Replacement Theology was introduced to the Church shortly after Gentile leadership took over from Jewish leadership. The premises of this belief are that Israel (the Jewish people and the land) are replaced by the Christian Church to fulfill the purposes of God and to become the historic continuation of “Israel” to the exclusion of the former. According to Replacement Theology, post the Pentecost event of Acts chapter 2, the term “Israel,” as found in the Bible, now refers to the Church. Therefore, the Jewish people are now no longer a “chosen people.” ” (10 ) If you have read the Bible with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, then you will most definitely disagree with this belief. God made it clear through His servants that Israel would always be His people. He promised Abraham that he would be a father of many nations and made an everlasting covenant with him that He would be his God. (Genesis 17:1-8) He gave Jeremiah this promise. “Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (The Lord of hosts is His name): ‘If these ordinances depart from before Me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.’ Thus says the Lord: ‘If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 31:35-37 NKJV) I think you will agree with me that this pre-requisite has not been met. Yep, the sun, moon, and stars are still in place! Israel has not been cast off. The Apostle Paul wrote this to the Romans concerning Israel. “Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:28-29 NKJV) These are just a few Scriptures that repudiate the Replacement Theology belief that the Christian Church has replaced Israel to fulfill the purposes of God. To those of you who believe in Replacement Theology I ask, have you not read the eleventh chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans? “For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.’ Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.” (Romans 11:16-21)

This article is by no means an exhaustive study of the history of anti-Semitism in the church. It is but a brief look at what humankind has done in the name of ‘Christianity.’ Dr. John Garr summarizes it in one sentence. “One of history’s most ironic aberrations is the fact that Christianity, the child, has for the most part risen up in antipathy toward Judaism, the parent, so that Judaeophobia, anti-Judaism, and anti-Semitism have come to characterize Christianity for more than nineteen centuries. (11)

Hopefully, what you have read here has caused you to think about your relationship with our Father God Yahweh, His Son Messiah Yeshua, and Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh.) As well, we hope it has caused you to reconsider how you think about the Jewish people. May you read Scriptures through a new and clearer lens, one that the Father has prepared for you from the beginning of time.

(1) Restoring Our Lost Legacy by John D. Garr, Ph.D. pg. 14

(2) Ibid pg. 22

(3) Constantine’s Sword by James Carroll pg. 237

(4) Inquisition by History.com Editors; Website Name: HISTORY;

URL https://www.history.com/topics/religion/inquisition Access Date: March 31, 2023

A&E Television Networks Last Updated January 10, 2023 Original Published Date November 17, 2017

(5) Ibid

(6) https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/blood-libel Accessed April 3, 2023

(7) Joshua J. Mark; Published Nov. 10, 2021; accessed April 3, 2023

https://www.worldhistory.org/Protestant_Reformation/#:~:text=The%20Protestant%20Reformation%20%281517-1648%29%20refers%20to%20the%20widespread,and%20leading%20to%20the%20development%20of%20modern%20nation-states.

(8) https://www.christiancentury.org/article/critical-essay/on-luther-and-lies by Rabbi Noam E Marans; Published October 11, 2017; Accessed April 3, 2023

(9) https://main-assets.ushmm.org/site/211203_pe_antisemitism_endcard.mp4 Accessed April 3, 2023

(10 ) https://www.khouse.org/articles/2020/1372/ by Ron Matsen; Published January 1, 2020; Accessed April 3, 2023

(11) Restoring Our Lost Legacy by John D. Garr, Ph.D. pg. 19 Posted 05 April 2023

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U. S. ELECTION NIGHT 2022 Posted Same

“There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We can reduce the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to... The Outer Limits.”

As I sat in front of my TV watching the major networks give us a breakdown of today’s election results (11/8/2022), the above quote from a 1960’s tv show came to mind. We are being told what the mainstream media wants us to know in the way they want us to hear it. They are in control of what is being “fed” into our minds. This isn’t a new thing for the mainstream media. They do it every day. As the election results come in, we get to see, as much as they want to show us, how well we have been influenced by what they have been feeding us over the last year, two years, decade, century ….. I finally had to turn my TV off. I didn’t want to hear their controlled transmission anymore. I decided I wanted to hear truth, the real Truth. I picked up my Bible and read the Truth. I encourage you to do the same.

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AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
Posted July 2022

In a recent church service I attended, I wept as we sang “America the Beautiful”. The touching words were written as a poem by Katherine Lee Bates in 1893 as she traveled by train across the United States, inspired by the many sites she saw. So much has changed in this country over the nearly 130 years since she wrote these words. She, too, may have wept, if she were standing with me, as she thought about the changes in our country. However, some things never change, no matter how many years have passed: God is still on His Throne and His commands still stand. “The grass withers, the flower fades; but the Word of our God stands forever.” (Is 40:8) And, in this, we have hope.

One of the lines in the song especially stood out to me: “Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!” As we look at our country today, we see a shortage of self-control and an excess of lawlessness. Somehow, over the 246 years since the beginning of this country, many people have decided that what they believe and want is more important that what others believe and want. Consequently, we have people in the streets and through the media demanding to have their way. It doesn’t matter to them that other people think differently than they do or that what they are demanding has been ruled unconstitutional. They want what they want, and they want it now! Recent Supreme Court rulings have caused an increase in their behavior. The Court’s decision concerning New York’s law regarding requirements for concealed carry applicants, as well as their decision concerning the EPA’s overreach of power in West Virginia, are two rulings that have caused unrest in the media as well as in Congress. However, the Court’s decision concerning Roe v. Wade has caused disorder, chaos, and lawlessness in the streets, exacerbated by the words and actions of some members of Congress, who have sworn to uphold our Constitution. Unfortunately, the US Department of Justice has allowed the demonstrators to break the law without repercussion. Any action that can be construed as influencing the outcome of a court case is not allowed. Yet, there have been demonstrators outside the homes of the conservative justices, with no one even attempting to enforce the law against this.

Another line: “And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea,” hardly seems applicable to our country today. Brotherhood denotes a common ancestry that should make us want to work for what’s best for everyone. If you watch, listen to, or read the news you will be hard-pressed to find that ‘brotherhood.’ You will find more negative comments about opposing views than you can stand to consume for more than two minutes. How did we develop such differing opinions on immigration, the economy, fuel production, sexuality and other moral values, to name a few? Could it be that we serve different ‘brothers?’ or ‘Fathers?’

The author wrote this about our Founding Fathers: “Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life!” Our Founding Fathers were not perfect men. They had their faults, as do all of us. But that doesn’t nullify their efforts and their sacrifices to establish this free republic. They were willing to give up their very lives in order to break free from the King of Great Britain. Some lost their homes and land, their families, their money, and died in poverty or prison. They loved their country more than they loved their own lives. Does this sacrifice sound somewhat familiar? “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Please understand that I am not comparing our Founding Fathers to Jesus. I am pointing out that they were willing to take risks in order to accomplish what was best for the people who wanted freedom from the tyranny of British rule. They broke away from the comfort of ‘conforming’ and stood against those who were not willing to allow them to have their freedom.

It is sad to see our country so divided. It is maddening to see people rioting in the streets, damaging property, stealing and assaulting in broad daylight, threatening and harassing those they don’t agree with, and just plain out engaging in anarchy. This is not what our Founding Fathers sacrificed for. It is time for us to make a sacrifice if we are concerned about the direction in which our country is going. That sacrifice begins on our knees. We must make a choice. Do we do nothing and watch this country be destroyed from within? Or do we cry out to God, our Father, and our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, in prayer? Have mercy on this nation, Lord. Do not give us what we deserve. “America, America, God shed his grace on thee.”

“For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:7-8)

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THE TESTIMONY OF GOD'S CREATION

Posted April 2022

What do you see when you look? I know that seems like an odd question. However, how often do we stop and look at what is around us?

During one of our snowfalls this winter I couldn’t help but go outside and walk in the falling snow. It beckoned me. Yes, the snow beckoned me to come out and walk in the midst of it, to enjoy its feel, its smell, its beauty. Something in me was joined to that snow, so much so that I had to go out and be a part of it, no matter how cold it was. What was it in the snow and in me that were so drawn to each other? The Holy Spirit of God! Yes, He created both of us and His Spirit is within us. His Holy Spirit communicates within His creation. Whatever is of God is drawn to itself, each to the other.

Sometimes we get so involved with the physical things around us that we forget that God is in all of it, and He is with us as we experience all of it. Nothing exists outside of God. He created all that is. He is in His creation, all of it and all of us. A while after I came in from walking out in the snow, I realized that I did not remember that Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit were out there walking with me. We had a Spirit-to-spirit connection, but I failed to recognize all of it. I “saw” them, in their creation, but I failed to “experience” their presence out there with me.

Some people, however, don’t see God in the world around them. Many of them don’t believe that God created the world we live in. They believe that it happened by the chance arrangement of molecules, cells, etc. that became all the animals, vegetables and minerals that make up the world as we know it. It baffles me that they can believe that. Several summers ago, we bought some tomato plants and planted them in the ground. They produced the most delicious tomatoes! We found out that they were an heirloom variety of tomatoes, which means you can save the seeds from the tomato fruit and grow new plants from them the next year. We saved some seeds, planted them in small containers, and nurtured them until they were ready to be planted in the ground. A few months after we had planted those seeds, we had 7’ tall tomato plants bearing tomatoes that were as delicious as the ones we had eaten the year before! From one seed we harvested more than thirty pounds of tomatoes from the plant that grew from it. ONE SEED! How can that happen? It is beyond my imagination how this could happen. That one seed had a 7’ tall plant within it, and a multitude of tomatoes. That is not a chance happening! That could only be GOD!

Let’s go back to the first question: What do you see when you look? The sun, sky, clouds, moon, stars, planets, trees, fields, flowers, birds, squirrels, deer, mountains, valleys, deserts, rivers, beaches, waves, and more, much more. How did all of these come into being? It didn’t just happen, starting at one point and expanding into what we see today. Something doesn’t come out of nothing. There had to be a beginning – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen 1:1 NKJV) If you continue reading Genesis Chapter 1 and on into Chapter 2 you will find the history of creation. God’s Word tells us even more about His creation and His relationship with it.

“Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.” (Deut 10:14 NKJV)

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap. He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood fast.” (Ps 33:6-9NKJV)

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews reminds them of God’s creation power. “By trusting (faith), we understand that the universe was created through a spoken word of God, so that what is seen did not come into being out of existing phenomena.” (Heb 11:3 CJB)

“For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.” (Ps 50:10-11 NKJV)

Asaph wrote about God, “The day is Yours; the night also is Yours. You have prepared the light and the sun. You have set all the borders of the earth. You have made summer and winter.” (Ps 74:16-17NKJV)

“In His hands are the deep places of the earth. The heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.” (Ps 95:4-5 NKJV)

King David wrote in great detail about God’s creation, beautifully praising Him in Psalm 104. I encourage you to take time to read it. When you’ve finished reading that Psalm then read what God Himself had to say about His creation power as He spoke to Job in Chapters 38 & 39. Job responded to God, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eyes see You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6 NKJV)

Now, let’s look at one more thing - your hand. Only you have those fingerprints. There is not an exact duplicate of them anywhere in creation. Such is the evidence of the mighty hand of God – the Testimony of His Creation.

For those of you who have taken time to read this and still question the existence of the one true God, Creator of all that is, I ask that you please consider these words of the Apostle Paul:

“For ever since the creation of the universe His invisible qualities – both His eternal power and His divine nature – have been clearly seen because they can be understood from what He has made. Therefore, they have no excuse.” (Rom 1:20 CJB)

I pray that you will open the eyes of your heart and see the awesome beauty of our great and marvelous God, Creator of all that is. He is your God. Accept Him.

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THE JOY OF THE LORD
Posted 23 January 2022

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19 NASB)

We are living in unsettling times. Everything around us seems to be falling apart, crumbling right before our eyes. Reading or watching the news gives us a feeling of despair, defeat, or even death…. inflation; drugs and human trafficking entering our country through illegal border crossings; rampant crime; the Corona virus; empty store shelves; shortage of workers in factories, hospitals, stores, restaurants …. I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

If we were to focus on these things we couldn’t survive – mentally, emotionally, and perhaps even physically. Therefore, our focus needs to be spiritual if we are to survive. What better place to focus than on the Word of God? There is an endless amount of scriptures that tell us about the goodness of God and the joy we can find in Him. As you read the scriptures below, may you be encouraged. May your spirit be filled with joy. May you welcome the presence of the Lord into your life. Be present today and every day.

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10 NASB)

“But let all who take refuge in Thee be glad, Let them ever sing for joy.” (Ps 5:11 NASB)

“In Thy presence is fulness of joy.” (Ps 16:11 NASB)

“Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (Ps 30:5b NASB)

“Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy.” (Ps 43:4 NASB)

“But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.” (Ps 68:3 NASB)

“Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee.” (Ps 70:4 NASB)

“Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy.” (Prov 12:20 NASB)

“The execution of justice is joy for the righteous but is terror to the workers of iniquity.” (Prov 21:15 NASB)

“His lord said unto him, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matt 25:21 KJV)

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:11 NASB)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy.” (John 15:20 NASB)

Another way to experience joy is to pray. Praying for others is such a privilege. Praying with others stirs up a joy within me that I can’t explain. I just know that when I have been with a group of fellow believers, interceding for the Church, our country, friends, family, and many people that we don’t even personally know, I come away feeling refreshed and renewed. That’s the way God works. We give out of ourselves to and for others. He gives of Himself back to us – twice blessed. Such joy to be a part of God’s process on earth! I encourage you to pray for others, by yourself or with others. The time you spend with God will encourage you in times of sorrow, hopelessness, loneliness, in the monotony of some days and in the overly busyness of other days. The Holy Spirit is always with us. We are His temple. (1Cor 6:19) He will lead you and guide you in prayer. Get quiet with Him before the Father and Jesus, pray, and be filled with the joy of the Lord!

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NASB)

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24-25 NASB)

Don't let satan steal your joy.

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A CHRISTMAS STORY
Posted 01 December 2021

Once upon a time, …. Uh, no, that’s not this story.
It came upon a midnight clear, …… We’re getting a little closer.
On a hill far away stood on old rugged cross… Now we’re getting there.

I grew up like many children, celebrating Christmas with a tinsel-covered tree, lights decorating the outside of the house, and a Nativity scene on a table. After all, the Nativity scene was what Christmas was all about, right? At least, that’s what we were taught. The first Christmas happened the night the infant Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem because there was no room for his mom and dad at the inn. And Santa Claus came to visit Him at that stable, …. WAIT! That’s not right. Did you ever stop to think about how one holiday could be about two very distinctly different people?

A few centuries after Jesus was born, lived, and died, Constantine the Great, Emperor of Rome from 306 to 337 AD, decided to make Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire. However, in order to keep the pagans happy, he had to incorporate some of their beliefs into Christianity. Now, this isn’t how Santa Claus became a part of Christmas. But it does have something to do with why we celebrate Christmas on December 25th. Some historians believe that Jesus was actually born a few months before that. However, these historical details are not the direction this story is going. You can do some research on your own if you want to know more about the origins and traditions of the secular Christmas celebration. This story’s direction is going to Jerusalem, 33 years after Jesus’ birth.

Chapter One takes place in Nazareth, before Jesus’ birth. “…behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.’” (Matthew 1:20-21) This infant Jesus was born to be a Savior.

Chapter Two takes place in Bethlehem. The angels proclaimed this to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) The shepherds went to visit Him in the stable where He was born. Eight days later, when His parents took him to the temple to be consecrated to the Lord, Simeon held Him and praised Him, saying He was born to be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:32) Simeon said to His mother Mary, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul, too.” (Luke 2:33-35) God revealed Who Jesus truly was.

Chapter Three takes place in Jerusalem 12 years later. Jesus knew His purpose, although His parents did not understand it. When His parents had to return to the temple in Jerusalem to find Him after the Feast of Passover He told them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be concerning myself with my Father’s affairs?” (Luke 2:49) Twelve years old, and He knew why He had been born.

Chapter Four has no entries. The Scriptures contain no details of Jesus’ life for approximately the next 18 years after He was in the temple courts of Jerusalem.

Chapter Five takes place at the Jordan River. When John saw Jesus he said, “Look, The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) If you remember, the angel told Joseph that Jesus would save His people from their sins. And the angels, when speaking to the shepherds about Jesus’ birth, referred to Him as a Savior.

Chapter Six takes place in Jerusalem. Jesus’ disciples have begun to follow Him. He has begun performing miraculous signs. Even some of the Pharisees have sought Him out. In answer to Nicodemus’ questions He declared, “For God so love the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) He continued, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17) Jesus did not hesitate to tell the truth about Who He was and why He was here.

Chapter Seven takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane, 33 years after Jesus’ birth. For three years He had healed the sick, given sight to the blind, delivered the demon-possessed, raised the dead, and more. And for this, His people demanded His crucifixion. Before His arrest He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) The time had come for Him to fulfill the reason for which He had been born. He was arrested, tried, and handed over to the will of the people. As He hung on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Before He breathed His last breath He said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) He had accomplished all that His Father had asked of Him.

Chapter Eight takes place three days later at the tomb where Jesus had been buried. Some women who had been followers of Jesus went to His tomb with spices they had prepared. When they arrived there, they found that the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. “While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead. He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ’ ” (Luke 24:4-7) He, Who was born to die, lives again!

Chapter Nine takes place 40 days later, in the vicinity of Bethany, where Jesus spoke His last words to the disciples after His resurrection. “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19) Thirty-three years after He had been born in that stable, He returned to His home - our home, if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

I’m sure you realize that this is not your typical Christmas story. Most Christmas stories focus on Jesus’ birth. However, what began in Nazareth more than 2000 years ago (Chapter One) continued on this earth until its purpose was fulfilled on the cross (Chapter Seven.) Jesus was born to die. But the story didn’t end there. He was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of His Father, where He is crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Rev 19:16) Through His life, death and resurrection, Jesus has bought us the greatest Christmas gift of all time - eternal life with Him. For my Grandchildren KSBJ

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
(Public Domain) by George Bennard

"On a hill far away stood an old, rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world
Has a wondrous attraction for me
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine
Such a wonderful beauty I see
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me.

And I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
And I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true
It's shame and reproach gladly bear
Then he'll call me some day to my home far away
Where his glory forever I'll share

And I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
And I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown"

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PRAY FOR THE CHURCH

“Pray constantly for the love of God and Christ to fill the hearts of His people, and for the power of the Holy Spirit to come down and accomplish God’s work in this sinful world.” (Daily in His Presence by Andrew Murray, October 26th) Posted 30 October 2021

We are called to pray for The Church – fellow believers throughout the world. It’s not enough for us to say we are Christians and then not act as Christians. We know how difficult it is to live a Godly life. We face many trials and temptations each day, as do all fellow believers. We make poor choices more often than we would like to admit. But we are not alone in this. God has raised up intercessors to pray for His Church. Those intercessors ARE His Church! Yes, we are called to pray for the lost. We are also called to pray for each other who know our Father, and His Son, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. His Church is only as strong as the weakest link. He calls us to pray for each link, weak or strong. We may be one of the weak, but that doesn’t keep us from being an intercessor for all. God’s Church is the only hope for this world. We know that He will bring an end to this world as we know it. However, it is our job to be participants in growing that hope. As we lift each other up in prayer we bring strength to the Body of Christ. Let us pray for those who need to develop a more intimate relationship with the Father. Let us pray for those who allow worldliness to interfere in that relationship. Let us pray for those whose faith is not strong and, thus wander off His path for their lives. Let us pray for those who choose to be ‘religious’ instead of surrendered to the Lord. Let us pray for those who are deceived by false teachers. Yes, all of this includes you and me. Pray for each other in The Church, knowing that there are others praying for you. By doing so we bring hope to each other, to ourselves, and to the world.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 15:13)

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BE PREPARED
Posted 23 October 2021

I was on hold with a Medicare agent when the Holy Spirit showed me not to take for granted the abilities we have to communicate with others. A time is coming when human contact with government, corporations, medical professionals, and others may be extremely limited, or non-existent. We rely on human contact to go through each day of our lives. What will we do when this contact is no longer available? We need to be prepared if/when this happens.

When the agent asked me for my phone number the Holy Spirit also brought to my mind the fact that I don’t know peoples’ phone numbers anymore. We rely on pre-programed numbers in our phones to automatically reach the people that we regularly contact. What would happen if we lost our phones and couldn’t contact people we needed to contact? We need to be prepared if/when this happens.

Have you gone to a store recently and noticed that the shelves aren’t fully stocked? This situation appeared in the US at the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic. It improved for a while, but now we’re seeing it happening again. On the US west coast ships are having to anchor offshore for days, waiting to unload because of delays in the ports. We are being told that we may not be able to buy that special gift that our child wants for Christmas because of problems with the global supply chain. Are you prepared if you can’t buy what you need? It’s time to stock your pantry shelves with basic staples and other food supplies, as well as water. You might want to add gasoline, ammunition, and a generator to that list. (Please don’t store these in your pantry!)What have you been taking for granted in your spiritual life? Would you be lost if you couldn’t contact church friends or communicate with your pastor? Being spiritually prepared is much more than that. It starts with being saved. Are you prepared for the day when you will no longer be physically alive on this earth? If you’re not physically on the earth, then you are spiritually in one of two places – heaven or hell. Spiritual preparation means acknowledging that Yahweh, the Creator of all that is, is the one true God. It also means accepting Yeshua, His Son, as your Savior. In addition, it means establishing an intimate relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and surrendering all that you are to them. Then, you are assured of being in heaven when you are no longer physically on earth. Lack of spiritual preparation results in eternal torment in the lake of fire. Eternal means forever and ever, with no end. Is that not enough to make you want to be prepared?!?!

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Posted 17 October 2021

Oswald Chambers: Utmost For His Highest“And greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.”John 14:12

“Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work. We think of prayer as a common-sense exercise of our higher powers in order to prepare us for God’s work. In the teaching of Jesus Christ prayer is the working of the miracle of Redemption in me which produces the miracle of Redemption in others by the power of God. … Prayer is the battle; … Whichever way God engineers circumstances, the duty is to pray.”

Andrew Murray: Devotional

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”John 14:13 “He (Jesus) longs to strengthen our faith, to free our prayer from every shadow of a doubt, and to teach us that intercession is the most certain way of bringing glory to God, joy to our souls, and blessing to a perishing world.”

Feature Writer: K. Jones

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SHA'ALU SHALOM YERUSALAYIM
PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM

BARUKH ATAH ADONAI, ELOHEINU, MELEKH HA'OLAM
BLESSED ARE YOU, LORD, OUR GOD, SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE

SHARING FAITH