Showing posts with label Christians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christians. Show all posts

Monday, August 4, 2025

My Encounters with Anti-Semitism - Dennis McCleod



Shalom,

Over the last 30-plus years, I have encountered and suffered from anti-semitism bias, even to the point of having our house attacked, because of our support of Israel. Here are some thoughts on this situation sweeping the world today.
Blessings

Dennis McCleod



My Encounters with Anti-Semitism

By Dennis McLeod 

My first encounter with anti-Semitism was before we lived in Israel, here in New Zealand, from a visiting minister of a church stationed in Jerusalem. The words he spoke, I didn’t fully understand at that time; he was clearly trying to relay to the audience that the Jewish people should not be in Israel. A few years later, while serving in Bethlehem, anti-Semitism was very clear among several of the ex-pats working in the area. Once, an ex-pat American lady verbally attacked me for learning Hebrew while living in an Arab area. This lady also openly confessed that there should be no Jews in this area, to which my Penny replied that there would be no Jews in this area if they hadn’t tried to get them out of that area. The lady stopped talking.

            After leaving Bethlehem, we joined a ministry called Christian Friends of Israel and looked forward to serving the Lord in this new capacity with a smile and joy. A Christian Arab friend in a Bible college, or someone I classed as a friend, said I had to tell them to change their name; in other words, Christians shouldn’t be friends of Israel. Something many Hamas-supporting Christians would agree with today. I have been cursed at and told I am unsaved by such people for supporting the Jewish people. 

The first question I was asked at our new position with Christian Friends of Israel was, ‘Why does New Zealand always vote against Israel at the UN?’ Something I was very ignorant of, as this was 1994, just the start of our thirty-year journey of education on the ‘subject’ of Israel and its situation in the history of the Middle East.

            We have been asked on several occasions, "What are you doing for the Arabs, both in Israel and here in my home country?". During the 18 months we were working for the Arabs in Bethlehem, no one ever asked us, ‘what are you doing for the Jews’? Back in NZ, we met a Jewish lady, who in the 1920s, as an 8-year-old, was called a Christ killer; she had to ask her mother what was meant by what was said. In NZ, I encountered two men I knew and found to be Jewish, but they would not open up to me before knowing what we had been doing in Israel.

            While we were in Bethlehem, there was no security barrier at that time, Jewish rubbish collectors stopped entering the area because of the attacks; a Jewish truck driver delivering petrol was shot dead, Jewish guards on work sites were killed, in Jerusalem, a man was killed waiting for a bus, and girls were attacked in a schoolyard; and Christians were attacked in Bethlehem. Shortly after we moved into Jerusalem, the bus bombings started. First in Tel Aviv, then Jerusalem, and attacks on people around the country, on people waiting for a bus. 

In restaurants and pizza parlors, celebrations were bombed, and men, women, and children were killed or maimed for life. The list goes on, and this does not cover what has taken place over the last 100 years, long before Israel became re-established in their ancestral land. Especially since our time working with and for the Jewish people in Jerusalem.

            First, the Arabs used terror as an attempt to prevent the Jewish people from returning to Israel, then war and intifadas; this all failed to remove the Jewish people from the land. A new tactic was required to claim the land for themselves. During the 6-day war and the 1973 war, it became clear to Arafat that he could not win on the battlefield, so he went to the media. Here, he claimed and published that he and his people were the true inhabitants of the land. 

With this, he played on the fact that very few people knew, or still do, that few protesters, or church members, understand the history of the land, its name, and how and when the ‘West Bank’ came about. That’s another paper. This move has been very successful over the years. Today, we see the same tactic being used in different arenas.

            Hamas attacked with the plan to destroy Israel, the plots of Iran to use Hamas, Hizballah, the Houthis, and others failed. Once more, they have turned to the hearts and minds and ignorance of the public, through the media. First, it was genocide, but with the massive population increase since Hamas took control of Gaza and with no evidence of such an act during this war, once more, they have to employ something else to play on the anti-Semitism boiling just under the surface of society.

            They have the final ace up their sleeve, the hunger card. Convince the world it’s Israel’s fault that the people of Gaza are starving, with false pictures and false narratives, hiding the fact that they themselves are preventing the food distribution with the help of the UN, which evidence is now showing they have been, and it’s working. Why? Because when anti-Semitism is hovering just below the surface, it takes little shaking of the heartstrings to bring it to the surface. They have learnt well from history, where we are in the same old mindset of, It’s happening, it’s bad, Jews are involved, they must be at fault.

  Since October 7th, the anti-Semitism displayed in New Zealand has been appalling, from the person in the street all the way up to the Prime Minister. Witch hunts of the Jewish people have been openly called for, with the silence of the government deafening. In 1947, the then-prime minister, Peter Fraser, voted yes to the UN partition plan because he saw the need of the people. Whereas Holland, the leader of the opposition, would have voted no, as he was influenced by commerce with the Arab nations. 

Today, our government is following the lead of Holland because of the international trade in the Middle East. Being totally blinded by trade deals, which are being exploited by Arab nations, through lies and false information given out by Hamas. Governments are blinded by their feelings towards the Jewish people and have no idea about how negotiations work in the region or the fact that Islam can lie to infidels, especially in times of war.

            It must be remembered what has been said by Arafat in the past, Hamas, and others now: ‘First the Saturday people and then the Sunday people.’ They have also stated they will fly their flag over every synagogue and church in Jerusalem. Arafat also stated that the Oslo Accords were a temporary action until their strength increased. They themselves have warned us and continue to warn us of their plans for Israel and the world.

            Having witnessed the events in Bethlehem during that time, I saw the victory celebrations, which brought together adults and children alike. What they said and their actions about peace treaties—nothing signed means peace, simply a lull to regroup for the next stage of invasion, as demonstrated by Hamas since they came to power in Gaza. Islamic leaders have stated. Give it five years or fifty years; time is on our side, and we will take over. I would advise all leaders to pay very much attention to their rhetoric, for what they say they mean. 

Nothing the PLO, Hamas, or any other group has signed in the last fifty years has been honoured. Israel has made several peace offers, but all they have received in return is destruction. When will it end? A question that has been asked by many. Maybe when Hamas lays down its arms and releases the hostages, or when Israel lays down its arms. However, the results of the latter option have been demonstrated by Hamas, when Israel, believing things were quiet on the border, stepped back, believing a peace could be settled in the area.


#Encounters #Anti-Semitism #DennisMcCleod #NewZealand #Jews #ChristianFriendsofIsrael #Christians

Monday, July 21, 2025

A Fig Tree in the Vineyard - Dr. Peter Wyns, Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, SC


A Fig Tree in the Vineyard - Dr. Peter Wyns

Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, SC

We concluded our 2025 Glory of Israel Conference Live at Antioch International Church this weekend! With another powerful message on the topic of Israel is our Head Pastor, Dr. Peter Wyns! Tune in here to A Fig Tree in a Vineyard by Dr. Peter Wyns!

Click here: A Fig Tree in a Vineyard 

#FigTree #Vineyard #PeterWyns #AntiochInternationalChurch #FortMill #SC #Israel #Jews #Christians #Jerusalem #Jesus #Yeshua

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

"Live Generously - But how?" - Steve Martin latest message

 

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July 9, 2025


Greetings to you once again.


Is it true - 'give and you shall receive'?


When I was 18, a long time ago, I worked the night shift stocking grocery shelves in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Being raised a Roman Catholic, my concept of the Bible was limited to hearing the priest read from it a few sentences at a time during Mass.


Working with me at the store was a young Baptist kid. He would talk to me at breaks, and being curious, I would listen also out of respect. When he spoke about tithing, I had no idea what that was. Catholics, mostly, at least in my young days, threw in a few dollars as the usher passed the long-handled basket down each row.


My message today isn’t about tithing, though; since I was 18, I have tithed.


A life of generosity goes way beyond your finances. It is having a heart as our Father does. To walk in His love, which He calls us to do, we must practice being generous.


Please read below to find out what will help you in your walk as well. And…I can testify, based on my financial well-being and the life I've lived, that being generous has proven that the Lord is absolutely right.


Ahava and Shalom,


Steve Martin

Love For His People Ministry


P.S. View the photos below and watch the new videos below. You can see all my videos on our YouTube channel, Love For His People/Steve Martin—over 2,900.

Bird Photo of the Week: This mom and her kids were in our downspout on our front porch. She gave me the courtesy of allowing me to take the family photo. Steve Martin

Israel Photo of the Week: Hannele Pardain (Christian Friends of Israel -USA director),

Ray Sanders (Christian Friends of Israel Co-Founder), Steve Martin - at the CFI office in Jerusalem, Israel. Ray passed on Oct. 6, 2023 (Photo: May 2004)

 Live Generously

-         But how?

  

A generous person will be prosperous, and one who gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty.” Proverbs 11:25, NASB

 

Learning to give…in prayer, encouraging others, our funds, and our time…does not happen overnight. In fact, for my life, it has been a process made possible by the Lord’s grace and encouragement. You can learn even more as you walk in His daily light and Word.

 

I want to share four examples with you to help you become more generous. I purposely kept them short to keep your attention.

 

1.     Prayer. For Christians, once you have experienced the Savior of your soul, prayer comes naturally. Say a quick word, and then watch the Lord respond. As a young toddler in your faith, He shows Himself strong on your behalf. But He expects you to grow up. To be consistent. To show His love to others by saying you will pray for them when asked (and when not) and actually do it.

 

Celebration of Disciplines is a book I read decades ago, and it instilled in me the correct view of practicing what we talk about. I encourage you to take a look.

 

Using a Proclamation Card, printed by Derek Prince Ministries, enables me to pray faithfully for Israel every day. If you'd like one, visit their website (highlighted, $0.05-$0.25 each) or write to me, and I'll send you one free of charge. It is the size of a bookmark and fits easily in my Complete Jewish Bible (or whatever version you use).

 

2. Encouraging others can be as simple as texting someone to say hello or being part of a WhatsApp, Signal, or even a Facebook group to share concerns and events that bring others joy and uplift. Phone calls? Not so much, unless you are older than 50. My adult kids won’t respond much to a call, but they'll respond to a text. Back at you real quick, generally!

 

3.     Funds – giving of what you have from what the Lord has given you to bless others with. I once heard a message from a man who gave thousands, nearly 90% of his business income, to ministries. And the Lord continually increased his business. At the time, I thought, “That will never happen to me. I can barely give 10% (tithe), especially with a wife and four kids still in the house.”

 

As the years went by, and the Lord helped me discipline my spending (by reducing waste and entertainment on ourselves), He enabled us to give more. My heart of giving grew, and I sought ways “to save” so I could have more “to give”. And trust me, it works.

 

4. Time – we have all been given 24 hours in a day. What do you do with it? Work, sleep, eat, entertain yourself, and such. Just a quick word about our time. We will each give an account of what we do with it. May your works burn up in the end, or may you be given crowns for how you blessed others with the time you were given—our choice.

 

I have come to believe this Scripture, believing the Lord to expand the truth in my heart.

 

Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 6:28, NASB

 

Living a life of generosity takes time. It is worth all the effort you put forth to do just that.

 

Ahava and Shalom,

 

Steve Martin

 

P.S. Next week, I will share a significant announcement that Laurie and I are about to embark on. I hope you read it!

 

We certainly are grateful for your support, as it costs us to send these messages each week. Please note that contributions can be made online

by clicking here: DONATE HERE. (Or you can go to our website, Love For His People, and click on the donate button on the right-hand column.

 

Are you new to these messages, or has another shared them with you? Sign up here to receive it directly. Click here: Sign Up for Steve Martin's Messages. (Or...click on the coffee cup shown on either side of this message in the columns!)

 

Love For His People Ministry

12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, North Carolina, USA

 

Message #6 in new series (2025): "Live Generously – But How?" July 7, 2025

First photo: Cathy Hargett, Highway To Zion Founder, Aug. 2011. Teaching the people.


Second photo: Billy Graham Library "The Sower" Training them up in the way they should go. Charlotte, North Carolina (Dec. 2022).

Hearing the Lord's voice - Steve Martin, David Peterman

"Hearing the Lord's Voice" - Ahava Moments With You, Steve Martin, David Peterman

Charlotte, NC


Do you hear? Do you want to hear more? Take a few minutes to listen to what He may be sharing with you now as we discuss how to hear His voice for your life. Today you can.


There are two parts, for the camera's battery ran out in the middle of the first video! (Sorry about that.) Listen to part 2 also, as we continue on.


Videos filmed and shared by Steve Martin, Founder, Love For His People Ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Jerusalem street music!

Music videoJerusalem, Israel - night street music with the violinist at the corner of Jaffa and Ben Yehuda in Zion Square. (Recorded by Steve Martin, Jerusalem 2019)

My goof friend in Israel, Avraham Saidian, an Iranian Jew, shares his story.

Above video: My good friend Avraham Saidian is from Jerusalem. He is a two-shop owner on Ben Yehuda St., along with his two sons, David and Dan, and his daughter, Dahlia. We have been friends now for over 20 years (As of May 2025).


The year I first met him, he asked for help with a phone call to St. John's Island, South Carolina. With the success of that call, he was so blessed that he had me come with him to his house in northern Jerusalem for a Shabbat meal.


I then stayed overnight at his insistence, went to shul (synagogue), visited his son's house, and then slept on the couch. In the morning, he had an Arab taxi driver (being Shabbat) take me back to my hotel, the Jerusalem Gold, where the Christian Friends of Israel USA tour group, directed by Hannele Pardain, which I was a part of, was staying.


This video was recorded on Oct. 17, 2018, in Avraham's shop at 15 Ben Yehuda Street, Jerusalem.

As in many of Steve's previous books, he continues to share experiences and inspiration in being faithful in the Christian walk - hearing the voice of the Lord, knowing His written Word, adhering to the teachings of those who have gone before - in order to stand strong in the midst of societal changes with the truth of the Lord Jesus, Yeshua.


As you read these chapters, may the Lord's encouragement through His Holy Spirit strengthen your inner being to walk out the calling He has on your life, among your family, and others surrounding you.


Being faithful to the end is possible only because of His grace and mercy working through us daily.


Buy now on Amazon HB $14.95, PB $9.95, Kindle $2.99

We certainly are grateful for your support, as it costs us to send these messages each week. Contributions are welcome online by clicking here: DONATE HERE.

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Love For His People Ministry | 12120 Woodside Falls Rd | Pineville, NC 28134 US


#Live Generously #But how #Steve Martin #message #Proverbs #prayer #giving #funds #tithing #encouragement# #Jesus #Yeshua #Christians #Savior #faith #Celebration of Disciplines #DerekPrince #Complete Jewish Bible #giving #Avraham


Sunday, July 6, 2025