Is the Air Force Done With People of Faith? - TRAVIS WEBER /FRC CHARISMA NEWS

A military plane on an Air Force base. ( REUTERS/Joseph Campbell)

Is the Air Force Done With People of Faith?

10/24/2017 TRAVIS WEBER /FRC  CHARISMA NEWS

Is it really possible that the Air Force no longer has room for people of faith? Based on the matter of Col. Bohannon, that may sadly be the case.

Leland Bohannon is a decorated colonel who has devoted decades of his life to serving our Air Force, including flying missions in the B-2 stealth bomber. He's been ranked first on his performance reports, has been bestowed numerous honors, and trusted with oversight of nuclear weapons. In other words, he's the model Air Force officer.

Yet Colonel Bohannon's career may be flushed down the drain by the Air Force simply because of a subordinate who wanted approval of a same-sex marriage. When he was handed several awards and certificates to sign for the subordinate's retirement ceremony, Colonel Bohannon signed all of them except a "certificate of spouse appreciation"—which he couldn't in good conscience sign because the certificate was for a spouse of the same sex. He sought advice about what to do from his chaplain and attorney; the chaplain told him to ask for a religious accommodation. He submitted one but it was returned six weeks later "without action." In the meantime, a major general offered to sign the certificate instead, and it was signed and presented to the subordinate. Yet when the subordinate saw that Colonel Bohannon was not the signatory, he filed an Equal Opportunity complaint against him, alleging discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The EO investigator found that Col Bohannon violated Air Force regulations and "unlawfully discriminated against the MSgt based on sexual orientation." The EO investigator recognized that a religious accommodation had been sought, but claimed that "even had the accommodation been granted, Col Bohannon would nonetheless be guilty of unlawful discrimination."

As a result, his superior "suspended Col Bohannon from command, withheld his decoration, and submitted a letter to the Air Force Brigadier General promotion board—the rank for which Col Bohannon is eligible—recommending that Col Bohannon not be promoted."

Related Articles

• Military Prophet Reveals Explicit Details of What's to Come
• U.S. Military Will Be Conducting 'A Major Military Exercise' on the Korean Peninsula During the Solar Eclipse

Not only is this entire side-show an absurd waste of time, it is clearly unlawful and unconstitutional. The EO investigator is apparently ignorant of the law in this area; if a religious accommodation is granted, that means by definition that he's not "guilty of unlawful discrimination"—because he's been granted an accommodation. Moreover, religious freedom law and military policy demand that he be granted an accommodation in an instance like this—where the objective is easily fulfilled with another signature on the certificate.

At best, this entire matter is a distraction for Colonel Bohannon. At worst, it could end his career. That's the track this train is currently proceeding on.

Thankfully, our friends at First Liberty are on the case, and those in the media like Todd Starnes are calling attention to this. Let us hope the Air Force fixes the issue before the entire situation is derailed and the military environment only grows more toxic for people of faith. 

Travis S. Weber is the Director of the Center for Religious Liberty at the Family Research Council, where he focuses on a variety of legal and policy issues pertaining to religious freedom. This article originally appeared on the Family Research Council Blog.

Readers are Leaders! Subscribe now and get 3 magazines for the price of 1. Get Charisma, Ministry Today and SpiritLed Woman all for $24. YES - Sign me up!

3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Click here to draw closer to God!

America - we need the Lord. He alone is our help and our salvation. Now. - A special edition of Now Think On This by Steve Martin.

America - we need the Lord. Now.

He alone is our help and our salvation.

July 4, 2017

In this special edition of Now Think On This, my heart years for the salvation of the Lord coming to our USA, this United States of America. 

From the beginning, this vast, rich-in-provision land, first given to the First Nations (formerly known as the American Indians), and then the Puritans, the Pilgrims, the Jews, Catholics, plus many forsaken people from many nations looking for a new start and safety, has been set aside for His purposes.

This beautiful land, a mighty blessing, and a haven for many from far and wide, was then purposed and built upon by a people brought together by the Lord Himself, our Father God.

This is the land in which our Founding Fathers gave their lives, resources, and established, using sound, biblical values to form a government - that which our US Constitution is based.

This is the land...O God bless our land!...as we repent of our sins, turn from our wicked ways, and seek the Living God of Israel; the same God who inspired and moved on hearts of men and women to come to America.

Today, and every day, let us seek the Lord's face; let us pray like we have never prayed before; let us give thanks that we are still standing, still being a beacon of light in the darkness.

O Lord we cry out to You! 

O Lord, come and heal our land that You have given to us!

We need the Lord more than ever. He alone is our help and our salvation.

With all my love for Jesus and His purposes,

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

Here is a special song I want to share with you today. The Lord Jesus, Yeshua, the Savior of the world, is worthy of all our praise. As we seek the Lord Yeshua, His love will bring hope, healing, and maintain our freedom for our children, grandchildren, and our homes. 

We need Him so desperately this day.

Transformation Church worship team - "Holy, Holy/Glory Is Beautiful/Nothing But The Blood of Jesus/Worthy Is The Lamb" medley. Video filmed by Steve Martin - to give appreciation to and love for those we support, through Love For His People, Inc.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel, Pakistan and Northern Ireland, whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858. 

 

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now through our website: Donate

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box 414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) Please share Now Think On This with your friends. Steve Martin

Now Think On This (Special Edition) - In the Year of our Lord 7.04.17 - #298 – “America – We Need the Lord.” – Tuesday, 5:30 am 

And a special appreciative shout out is given to all the men and women, past and present, who have sacrificed their lives for the America. 

We salute those who serve now, protecting our freedoms, to keep us safe, and those we help in other nations.

We SALUTE the men and women of the US Army, Navy, 

Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.

We love you! Thank you very much!

JAMES NESBIT - New Art Releases: Protector of Justice and Angel of Rescue

Share Tweet Forward Multiplied blessings to you and yours! We haven’t communicated in a while as we have been on the road – what a wonderful year we have had!  We just completed the Blue Journey assignment in Kansas City, and the night we were there they had turned the waters blue in celebration of the Royals being in the playoffs; what a way to complete the journey! We had a tremendous breakthrough among the Pueblo in New Mexico as we worshipped on the reservation there. We were hosted by our dear friend Holly Kingsbury, and we are looking forward to worshipping on several reservations next year; our 2016 calendar is pretty busy already, we will we release our 2016 schedule soon. We are releasing two prints at once – they are so connected we felt it important to do so. In December 2014, I created an image called Cover Me which depicted an angel watching over our troops. Our law enforcement officers have been under siege by those advancing lawlessness masquerading as protest for justice, and our fire and rescue teams have been taxed to the limit with all the fires out west – these two images are created in their honor.

We are proud to introduce Protector of Justice and Angel of Rescue to honor those who have given their lives to protect and serve in such toxic times.  To purchase these images, click on them and you will be redirected to our website. Shalom, James

Email Facebook Twitter Art Website Ministry Website Copyright © 2015 Prophetic Art of James Nesbit, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up for emails from jnesbit.com. Our mailing address is: Prophetic Art of James Nesbit P.O. Box 112 New Baden, IL 62265 Add us to your address book

What is Truth? (Part 1) by Zev Porat

What is Truth? (Part 1)

by Zev Porat

Until now, very few ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel have made a leap o faith to find salvation through Messiah Yeshua and fewer yet have proclaimed it publicly. This is the amazing story of one who did... 

I was born in Israel,raised in Bnei Brak – considered the most ultra-Orthodox city in Israel. There famous Rabbis live and thousands of men spend their entire life studying in the yeshivot (rabbinical schools). 

To religious Jews, our ancestry is very important to us. So here is mine: My father, grandfather and ancestors were rabbis. Some were “dayans,” meaning “judges of rabbis.” My grandfather, Rabbi Pinhas Porat, escaped from the holocaust in Poland. As he fled, he helped two women who were sisters escape with him. One sister died on the way to Israel and the other became my grandmother. 

My mother wasn’t born into a religious home. Her father, Zev Goldman, was a member of the Knesset in the Likud party – now headed by Benjamin Netanyahu. But when she met my father, she was ready to become part of the ultra- Orthodox community and in 1965 I was born. 

My father was offered a job in Los Angeles to be principal in a Hebrew day school and Rabbi of a synagogue, so I was raised in southern California. One day when we were leaving school, a group of Christians stood across the street handing out tracts and Christian literature. 

My father was furious and told us to stay away from those people because they were dangerous. He told me that God would be angry with me if I just mentioned the name of Jesus because it was blasphemy and against Judaism. 

I remember growing up being particularly scared of two things – the name of Jesus and pork. 

After junior high my father sent me to a very Orthodox yeshiva – a rabbinical school – called “Emek” in downtown Los Angeles. I wore black clothes with the shtreimel, the big black hat, and peias, the long sidecurls. 

My father and grandfather - the whole family - was expecting me to continue the tradition of becoming a rabbi - the most honored profession by far among Orthodox Jews. 

But I never actually wanted to be religious. It was just too difficult for me, too intense with rules, rules, rules, and I begged to go to a public school. My father finally agreed on condition that I study in the afternoons at the synagogue. 

I didn’t really connect with the kids in public school as I was “the rabbi’s son,” and not allowed to mix with the outside world. So I grew up without many friends. 

Then my father suddenly died of a heart attack and we returned to Israel and buried him in a special cemetery in Bnai Brak – where rabbis and religious soldiers are buried. 

I Join the Air Force

My grandfather, Rabbi Pinhas Porat, was still alive and he took the place of my father, making sure he made time to keep me studying the Torah and Talmud. I loved my grandfather and was thankful that he cared for me as he did. 

But it was time to make some decisions in my life. I decided to join the air force – something that ultra- Orthodox men don’t often do. But by this time I had taken off my shtreimel and was only wearing a yarmulka – a knitted skullcap. And I shaved off my beard. I was becoming less inclined to ultra-Orthodoxy. 

In the air force I began to drift away from religion altogether and did everything that I was not allowed to do as an Orthodox Jew. I started going to bars, to drink and to get into fights. Eventually the Internet came along; I was doing everything on the Internet except the will of God. 

I went to work for a large insurance company, and for extra money was a clerk at reception in a hotel two evenings a week. One night a tour group from China arrived to visit a food exhibition in Tel Aviv. Out of the entire tour only one woman, Lin, could speak any English, and so I registered the group and helped them settle into the hotel through Lin. 

I found out she was a top chef from Shanghai and somehow we clicked. Soon we married. At home I still had pictures of rabbis on the wall and icons warding off the evil eye, while Lin lit incense to a statue of Buddha. 

I Meet a New Friend

One day when I was in an Internet chat room someone asked me where I was from. When I said “Israel,” the guy began to talk with me about Jesus, about Yeshua. I of course told him I am Jewish and I don’t want to hear about the New Testament because it is not for Jewish people. “Secondly,” I said, “I came to the chat room in order to run away from God and I don’t want to talk to you!” 

The easiest thing would have been to press the delete button and this guy would have been out of my life. But for some reason (which I understand now) I didn’t. So this guy – his name was Todd – told me his story. He was from Southern California (where I grew up), and he began to chat with me about the Good News. I couldn’t press the delete button. 

Todd then told me, “Listen, I’ll teach you the truth that’s found in the Bible. I’ll show you from the Old Testament.” Thank God this person knew the Old Testament! So for four years, almost on a daily basis, Todd taught me about the Messiah from the Tanach – the Old Testament. I started to understand Isaiah 53, Isaiah 9, Micah 5, Genesis 3, Psalm 2, Psalm 110, Psalm 122, Isaiah 7:14.

It began to register. But then I told myself, “Even if this is true, I can’t believe it because I am a Jew!” 

Zev and his wife Lin, a top Asian chef from Shanghai. They met when Lin visited Israel to attend a food exhibition.

I Go on a Two-Year Search

But then, after about two years of Todd’s teaching, I began to have a terrible time sleeping. I had had problems in the past, but now it was worse. As I tossed and turned, I decided I was going to do my own investigation about the real Jewish Messiah. 

Todd would teach me on the Internet and then I carried out my own search. I combed through the libraries to do a history check. I studied the history of Judaism and Christianity. I became more confused. 

Then I decided the best place to determine the truth would be to go to whom else? The rabbis, of course! First I went to my grandfather, Rabbi Pinchas Porat. He was 86 years old at that time and was a very calm man. I didn’t go to him and ask, “Who is the Messiah?” I never spoke to him about Yeshua. I simply showed him various places in the Bible – the Jewish Bible – that Todd had shown me on the Internet. 

I showed him Isaiah 53. I showed him Isaiah 7:14. I showed him Jeremiah 31:31 – about the New Covenant. I showed him Genesis 3 and then I showed him Micah 5:2. (Micah 5:1 in Hebrew) 

My grandfather became very nervous about my questions. Very nervous. The more nervous he became, the closer I found myself moving toward the unthinkable – THE TRUTH! I knew there was something wrong with my grandfather’s behavior and I was determined now to get to the bottom of it. 

Here was my question: Who is this baby in Micah 5:2? I wanted an answer. 

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting. 

In Hebrew the end of the verse is even stronger than in English. It says, “Mi Kedem, Mimey Olam” meaning “before the foundations of the world.” 

I wanted an answer from the rabbis: Who is this child that has been in existence before the foundation of the world? One who would be the Ruler of Israel? Who was this Baby? 

I Interview 32 Rabbis

After work I actually conducted a series of interviews with rabbis - 32 in all - during a period of over two years. I received 26 different answers to that same question. At the same time Todd was still speaking with me over the Internet. 

I finally decided to go and meet with the Chief Rabbi of Israel – at that time Rabbi Israel Lau. Rabbi Lau knew my family very well because he had flown to California to conduct my Bar Mitzvah. I asked him a simple question, “Rabbi Israel Lau, I interviewed 32 rabbis, one of them being my own grandfather. I have received 26 different answers to this same question. Isn’t there one Bible?” 

He just sat there smiling at me and said, “Zev, you asked 32 rabbis and received 26 answers. It’s OK, because there are 70 faces to the Torah – 70 faces to the Bible.” 

Rabbi Lau’s answer was not only disappointing, not only shocking, but he confirmed to me THE TRUTH at that very moment. 

I left the office, being totally convinced of the Truth, but still in denial. I still said to myself, “I am a Jew. If I believe that Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel I will lose my family, my friends, my job, my life. I cannot believe this.” 

That was my conclusion after four years of discussion on the Internet and two years of research and evaluation. The Bible truly speaks about the Jewish people being stiff-necked. As far as I was concerned, that is an understatement! 

I Hear a Voice

The next night a cold wave had hit Israel and we had no heating at that time in our bedroom. I went to sleep, but about 3:00 a.m. I broke out in a heavy sweat and began to shake. I realized instantly that I was having a supernatural visitation. I felt electricity going through my body and over my head I saw a cloud. 

Usually a cloud is “cloudy,” but this cloud was shiny and through that cloud was a very bright light. Then I heard a voice call my name twice. The voice said in Hebrew, “Zev, Zev, Isaiah 53 is the Messiah of Israel! Isaiah 53 is the Messiah of Israel! It is true!” 

I began to shake violently. I knew that I knew THE TRUTH. 

As a religious Jew from a rabbinical family, I had been raised to believe that I had a relationship with God because I am a Jew. But this was the first time that I had ever actually experienced the presence of God. I was feeling something I had never felt before in my life. I had connected directly with God the Father through His Son Yeshua. 

I woke up my wife who had heard and seen nothing, and I said, “Lin! It is true! The Messiah of Israel is Yeshua!” Lin, still a Buddhist, said, “Go back to bed, Zev. The guy from the Internet is brainwashing you.” I said, “No, Lin! He is the Messiah!” 

Then she saw that the whole bed was wet from my sweating – on this very cold night. She knew something had happened to me. Within a week she too accepted Yeshua as her Messiah and Lord… 

Honoring family in the US Army and Coast Guard. Every Day!

Giving thanks daily for our men and women serving in the US Armed Forces - Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

Especially to our nephews:

US Army Chris Baker 

and 

US Coast Guard Jake Smith!

Staff Sargeant E-6 Christopher Baker

Chris is the son of Linda Baker-Skaggs (Laurie's oldest sister), and is originally from Illinois. Chris is the husband of Tonya. They have four kids. 

He has had one tour of duty in Afghanistan and will be there again.

Thank you for your honorable, courageous, and dedicated service to our country. Without you and those serving also, we would not be living in the freedom we do. 

Jacob Robert Smith

Bob and I want to honour our son, Jake R. Smith this Memorial Day for his service to this blessed country we live in. Jake has served for over 10 years, first for 5 years full time during the time of the Iraq war, and now in the reserves. Jake is a wonderful soldier, son, husband to Morgan Jennifer Smith and father of two beautiful boys. We love him very much and so very proud of him! 

Mary Smith

Thank you both for your honorable, courageous, and dedicated service to our country. Without you and those serving also, we would not be living in the freedom we do. 

With our love, 

Uncle Steve and Aunt Laurie

Steve Martin sings a short version of our National Anthem...