Pentecost and Shavuot! Together in celebration of His Coming!

Pentecost and Shavuot! 

Together in celebration of His Coming!

With our love, ahava and shalom,

Steve & Laurie Martin

Love For His People ministry

Charlotte, North Carolina  USA

'So Let It Be Done': As ABC Re-Airs 'Ten Commandments' for 45th Time, Here's What You Didn't Know About 1 Epic Special Effect - CBN News Steve Warren

Screenshot of Charlton Heston as Moses from the trailer for Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 epic "The Ten Commandments." (Image credit: Paramount/Wikipedia)

'So Let It Be Done': As ABC Re-Airs 'Ten Commandments' for 45th Time, Here's What You Didn't Know About 1 Epic Special Effect

04-15-2019

CBN News Steve Warren

Cecil B. DeMille's biblical epic about an original game of thrones played out between two Egyptian princes will be seen again on broadcast television this weekend.

The Academy Award-winning The Ten Commandments will air on the ABC television network at 7:00 pm Eastern/6:00 pm Central, Saturday, April 20. 

Spoiler alert:  One prince wins the throne, while the other ends up as a messenger for the Most High. 

Related

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The Real Story of Ben-Hur's 'Tale of the Christ'

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Except for one gap in 1999, the 1956 classic film, starring Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Rameses, has been broadcast by ABC around Easter and Passover since 1973.   

The Ten Commandments remains one of the most popular films ever made. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. 

It was also a box office hit. The film is the seventh-highest-grossing film of all time, adjusted for inflation, according to Wikipedia.  As of 2011, the movie was estimated to have brought in more than $2 billion. 

The cast reads like a who's who of old Hollywood. Along with Heston and Brynner, the film also stars Anne Baxter, Edward G. Robinson, Yvonne De Carlo, Debra Paget, John Derek, Vincent Price, and John Carradine.

The working title of the film was originally "Prince of Egypt." It was directed and produced by DeMille, who intended it as a remake of his earlier 1923 Paramount film The Ten Commandments. 

According to the Turner Classic Movies website, in the original theatrical version of the film before the opening title credits, DeMille is seen stepping from behind a curtain and onto a stage. He then directly addressed the viewing audience, telling them that the Bible omits approximately 30 years in its description of the life of Moses and that the filmmakers drew upon historical works such as those by Philo and Josephus and the Hebrew Midrash for the picture. 

The director also explained that the subject of Moses' life is particularly timely, as it deals with themes such as whether man is to be ruled by God's law or the whims of a dictator like Rameses. The director said the filmmakers' intent was "not to create a story but to be worthy of the story divinely created 3,000 years ago, the five books of Moses." 

The film also has the significance of having the most expensive special effect ever made for a film -- the parting of the Red Sea.

In April 1955 the New York Times reported the special effects team "built a 200,000 cubic-foot swimming pool and installed hydraulic equipment that could deluge the area with 360,000 gallons of water in two minutes flat."  

A May 20, 1955, Hollywood Reporter news item asserted that the Red Sea sequence would cost $500,000, both for filming and creating the special effects. The Times review, however, claimed that the scene "cost more than a million dollars and took 18 months to shoot."

Last year, Jeff Pfeiffer wrote an article posted to the TV Insider website about The Ten Commandments re-airing on ABC and asked the questions: Why is the film still so popular today when any film, including The Ten Commandments, is readily available via streaming or DVD?  And why do people still display a sometimes passionate desire to see ABC air this film every year at around the same time?

"This seems to be a case where it's not only the film itself but the tradition of watching it on television, most likely with family, that combines to make it a special event for many viewers, perhaps made stronger set against the backdrop of various spring holidays," he wrote. 

"Television times may have changed, but ABC's annual Easter airing of The Ten Commandments can still give (particularly older) viewers some sense of that comfort and familiarity," Pfeiffer continued. 

So this Saturday night, plan on spending some time with your family watching the movie... and pass the popcorn. 

Walk Through. I’ve Parted the Waters for You. - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Walk Through.

I’ve Parted the Waters for You.

“God said to Moses: "Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving. Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground.” Exodus 14:15-16, THE MESSAGE)

When the Holy Spirit starts moving in a gathering of His people, things begin to happen. The anticipation is building. The atmosphere is stirred. The prophetic ministry starts to flow. I love it!

On April 7, 2019, in the Sunday morning service of Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, South Carolina, the worship team had completed our last song on the list. Two hours before that, the leader Toni Bogart had seen me sitting in the back-row chairs of The Barn auditorium, as I had gotten there early to listen to the team practice, starting around 8 am. I was not scheduled to be one of the vocals that day, but shortly after their practice start, Toni called me out and asked if I wanted to join them for the worship. Of course, I said, “Yes!” (She told me later that two others had been scheduled but weren’t able to make it that day.)

When the meeting began two hours later, as is the norm we finished the first song before Dr. Peter Wyns came to greet the people. From that point on all gathered were free to leave their seats and participate in communion at the front table as the next progression of songs were sung. I don’t recall the list exactly, for I hadn’t seen it until then. Of the five songs, I had heard two before, and asked the Lord to help me! One was sung by Kari Jobe, entitled “Worship the Great I Am”, and another I knew by the worship artist Julie Meyer, “Unto the Lamb”. These two were last on the list.

Even during practice, I could sense the anointing of the Holy Spirit on them.

When the Holy Spirit moves in my spirit prior to receiving a prophetic word, my heart begins to race a bit. I sense the extra energy excitement come, and so I prepare to hear what He has to share. Most commonly it is only one word, making me trust in faith that more will come as I begin to speak forth. Or in this case, sing out.

But as the worship time was ending, there hadn’t seemed to be the right time to share the word I was getting, so I assumed it wouldn’t be today.

Dr. Wyns had come back to the platform podium and had one of his youngest grandsons, Asher Enns, join him, to tell us of Asher’s dream he had had that previous night. From what I could hear, in the dream he had seen a “spiritual bomb” exploding over Israel. That was good, catching as much as I could from above them. (I found out later the reason I couldn’t hear the platform mics that well was because they were not in our stage monitors.) Peter and Asher then left the podium.

Pastors Jesse and Elizabeth Enns then came up. Liz had a prophetic word. Again, it was hard to hear what she was saying, but I am glad Matt Wyn’s production team (Harry Cogan, Tiffany Bryant, David Lopez, Luke Bender) record these times, and then also live stream on YouTube. I hope to hear fully later.

While this was going on, Toni was continuing to play on her keyboard. The Holy Spirit then spoke to me quietly in my head, saying now was the time that I had an open door to sing a prophetic song I thought was to have been for before. So, I stepped forward a bit and sang.

“The waters have parted for you. The waters have parted for you. Walk through. I parted the waters for you.”

I repeated this simple phrase a few times, with my eyes closed as I usually do, to concentrate on His voice. I was not aware that Peter had again returned to the platform for the third time and was exhorting the people to begin to pass through the waters that the Lord was opening for them. Waters of deliverance, healing, and salvation. By this time a few had come to the altar area already, and then Peter began welcoming others to join them. The Holy Spirit was moving among His people.

For those who have walked with the Lord for any measure of time, this is not unusual, having the Holy Spirit give a prophetic word or song through people, followed by a response from those within hearing. And yet, this was a bit more special. Almost all the congregation had come forward, seeking to receive what the Lord was freely offering.

Personally, I will recall this day in the months to come, knowing that many, many more moments like this will be experienced here. The Lord is moving at Antioch. The former spiritual wells dug during the decade of the former Heritage USA in the 1980s, long ago filled in over the past three decades of time, are being opened once again in this place.

On the other hand, the prohibiting waters that have kept people from crossing over, into freedom and release to accomplish the Lord’s will, are being parted, and His people are walking through, leaving behind bondage, sickness, hurt, pain, and unforgiveness. The time has come. Now is the time.

May you know of the Lord’s heart to take you through the parted waters, even as He did with Moses and the Hebrews, the Israelites. He has come to take you over, to walk through. He has parted the waters for you also.

It is a faith journey, but He is the One who is Faithful to carry you through. Trust in Him.

He is also bringing forth the unplugged springs of living water, for refreshing and much, much more. His heart is for the nations!

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will shepherd them, will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17, Complete Jewish Bible)

The Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, is giving us fresh springs to drink from and is declaring that now is the time to walk through the parted waters also.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$120 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Please donate online safely through our website. Click here: DONATE  

(or use the DONATE  buttons on the blog.)

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 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.  Others will be thankful you did.

Now Think On This #408 - in the year of our Lord 04.08.19 – “Walk Through” – Monday 6:35 am.

40 years ago in your life? The Lord started you on a new season. Did you know that?

Clock and more in my home ministry office.

40 years ago.

March 8, 2019

Dear friends of Love For His People ministry,

Where were you 40 years ago? If you think back, you may have just completed a time table the Lord has for you, to bring you into a new season. Consider Moses, Joseph, and others. 

Forty 40 years ago, if you take the time now to remember where you were back then... what you were doing in this time of your life; how the Lord has been directing your path, you may be tremendously encouraged where He has now brought you, Into a new season, into a new place.

A new season of maturity for sure, but also a new season of open doors, open heavens, and new responsibilities that He has raised you up and trained you for in this very hour and season of your life.

Consider where were you 40 years ago, and realize where you are now.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People ministry
Charlotte, NC USA

It is time...

Tip-Toeing Through the Tulips - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Tip-Toeing Through the Tulips

Steve Martin

“I and My Father are one." Spoken by Jesus (Yeshua) in John 10:30, NKJV.

There is a way to get mad about something in order to get the right thing done. Anger isn’t always wrong. It can be, if not used properly. But there is a time to get angry against that which is just wrong. God did. His Son Jesus did too. And together they both still do, along with the Holy Spirit.

As believers, we need to understand that there are proper times when to stand up, tell it like it is, and let the world know that we are not sissies, tip-toeing through the tulips, in order to not “offend anyone, or hurt someone’s feelings.”

Enough is enough.

How many Christians had been taught far too long that Jesus (the eternal God in the flesh), is “all loving, at all times” (which He is), but because of our inerrant understanding of love, which isn’t His, we think He is therefore not the same God that is revealed in the Old Testament (Torah, Tanakh, Prophets, and Psalms), bringing judgment and dealing with sin righteously. We have been taught that “that God” certainly is not the same God that exists now. How advanced we have become in our pride and arrogance.

We have been taught that the God people knew then is not the same One we should know now. Did not Jesus repeatedly reaffirm to those He walked with that He Himself is God? Did God somehow change between the Old and the New Testament?

I think not. Because He did not.

“I am the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) God (Jesus) has not changed from the time He was revealed in the Old Testament to the time He came in the flesh in the New Testament.

How foolish have we become when we use the excuse that we can’t say this, or do that, because we are Christians, followers of Christ, and therefore must “love all people at all times”. Yes, we are to love, but godly love doesn't just permit people to do anything they want to do when they want to do it.  While “God is love”, we can't use our misunderstanding as for the excuse we so often use to allow all things to be as they continue to be, which in turn is leading our nations down the road to ruin, destruction, and death.

It is past time not speaking out against those perverse actions that others continue to espouse and push on our society, which is horribly not biblical. It is past the time for us to simply “be sensitive to others, be kind and permissive for how they feel and act, and continually turn the other cheek”, letting God’s way of life be cast aside, because "Que sera, sera" (what will be, will be.)

What Bible are these people reading, who preach this stuff in our Sunday pulpits and synagogues?

To quote one popular TV celebrity (which I heavily resisted doing, but it gets the point across) – “Where has that gotten you?” 

Has it not occurred to us that when Jesus (His real name is Yeshua) walked on earth, He did not go around apologizing for any actions His Father did in the Old Testament, the exact same God of the New Testament as He is of the Old?

When God brought judgment upon people, cities, lands, and nations, He was indeed acting as the God of Love, as He still is. But with His righteous anger, and to deal with sin as it is, He must act accordingly. That doesn’t stop Him from being God. It places Him above all things, all people, all acts that mankind commits, BECAUSE He is God.

Is it a different God Who brings judgment in the Book of Revelation, which is coming soon in prophetic fulfillment, then it was the same God Who brought judgment during Noah’s time during the

earth’s destruction by rain and flood; Moses’ deliverance in Egypt, or Joshua’s taking of Canaan from the inhabitants who dwelt there? The God they knew and obeyed is the same God Whom we are called to follow now.

If we just sit by and let the world go to hell, falsely believing that we will be rescued out of here any day now, by some false teaching which has stymied the Church for decades, called the rapture (which didn’t start to be spread until the late 1800’s), then we are again among the most foolish of them all.

If God our Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit (God – all three in one) are the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8), then we too must understand that right is right, wrong is wrong, and we better know the difference, and respond to people and situations as they do, God the Trinity.

I pray that we will not be totally shocked when we see God act as He will, as He won't be fitting into our perfect religion that we have made Him out to be, trying to dictate and regulate in our minds what He can and can’t do.

We have got to stop “tip-toeing through the tulips” around those who continually speak out against life, liberty, and upholding godly principles. 

We must be the ones conducting ourselves, our families, our churches and our congregations as we should be doing, basing our lives on God’s Word and ways, and not on those of the current windblown non-believers, pushing their societal beliefs on our nations.

For far too long we have sat back and let the unrighteous take over.

No more.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$120 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Please donate online safely through our website. Click here: DONATE  

(or use the DONATE  buttons on the blog.)

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 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.  Others will be thankful you did.

Now Think On This #397 - in the year of our Lord 03.06.19 – “Tip-Toeing Through the Tulips” – Wednesday, 5:45 pm

Kill It So It Can Live. Again. (Part 1 of 2) - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Kill It So It Can Live. Again. (Part 1 of 2)

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection…” (Romans 6:5, NKJV)

Life. Death. Burial. Resurrection.

As I read Don Moen’s new autobiography, “God Will Make A Way” (Thomas Nelson, 2018), I was struck by a paragraph in which he explains how typically the Lord works, when He gives us a vision for our life.

“There seems to be a pattern that the Lord often uses in our lives. He will birth a vision in us. Then there will be a point where we feel led to lay it down, even to the point of letting it die. Once we believe the vision is dead and gone, He will revive and restore it in us, often making our passion stronger than ever.” Don Moen

He reveals the vision. We start to see it happen. He asks us to kill it. (Or He does.) And then months, years or decades later He resurrects it.

It happened with Moses. So too with Joseph. Many of the prophets. And of course Jesus. Life. Death. Burial. Resurrection. Ever happen with you? If not yet, it will. If it is God from the beginning.

Personally, I can relate. Yes, indeed. I got it.

Music has always been a joy in my heart. Beginning with the period of time that I took basic chord guitar lessons on my cheap, Gibson starter guitar (rented, if I remember right) in 6^th grade, going to the YMCA building in Waterloo, Iowa (thanks Dad and Mom for always driving me the 15 miles, waiting the half hour during the group lessons, and then taking me home every week!) Mrs. Fullilove, a rather robust, jolly black lady in her mid-40’s I think, taught me the G, C, D, and minor chords. I learned how to play “Red River Valley” and a few more during those months with her small group.

Then it was onto 7^th grade, carrying my guitar, that I had bought with my Waterloo Courier paper route money, the one and half miles (yes, even in the snow at times in Cedar Falls, Iowa!) to the single man who taught me even more, with picking, songwriting and such. At $15/half hour, that was a stretch for me way back in 1962. Again, thank you Lord for my paper route!

A song I played at the 8th-grade talent show encouraged me to continue, singing Song of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel. Somewhat in high school and a small bit in college, I led worship at small Christian home groups. I regret I never learned bar chords though. I could never wrap my wrist far enough around the neck it seemed to master that essential part of playing more songs than I ever did.

After Laurie and I got married in 1977, we sang together in choirs and led worship many times in churches, with me strumming the guitar along with both of us singing lead vocals. By 2002 we also formed the “Steve Martin & the Raiders” band, wanting to hit the “secular” scene with Gospel praise and worship. My thought was to “Be as David did, and go out into the highways and the byways, “raiding” the lost souls for Jesus.” With Steve Martin being my actual name, I felt that would be a name catch too and get people’s attention to come to check us out. That lasted two years.

Finally, around 2011, we brought together Jew, black, white, Indian, male and female, to form the “Ahava Love Band” (“ahava” being love in Hebrew, so we had the real One New Man band – both Jew and Gentile!) Through 2013 we enjoyed the joys, struggles, and commitment it took to keep the band team together.

Steve & Laurie's music...over the years.

Then we quit it all. 

Right before a Saturday night Messianic Jew-led gathering, in August of 2013, in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Lord told me that this was it for the worship band. End of the road. Time to lay it all down. Bury the band.

And He was right. Right before the meeting started, the keyboard player/singer told me she was leaving because the band was “under our non-profit” Love For His People, Inc. ministry, a 501©3 tax-exempt organization, and thus essentially “controlled by the US government”. Because of that, she said she could no longer be a part of us. I said, “OK”, but even before then the Holy Spirit had told me that this was the end. So it didn’t crush me as I would normally have experienced.

And so for the next five years, neither Laurie or I sang again. My Takamine guitar had long before been laid down, but now even my tambourine, orange shaker, and “lead vocal” instrument was laid to rest. Laurie’s beautiful alto voice no longer sang publicly, except as part of the full church congregation worship during Sunday morning services. We had no plans to ever sing again – as a duet, band vocals, or as a worship team backup or lead singers.

But…never say never if you walk with the Lord Jesus!!!

And so, this week of November 26, 2018, I shall continue this real, right now story in my next Now Think On This message. I am thrilled to share it with you!

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

Watch Part 2 here: Kill It So It Can Live Again (Part 2 of 2)

P.S. Want an adventure walking the streets of Jerusalem? Come with me sometime! And in the meantime, watch my short videos that I recorded in October 2018 as I did that just that. Jerusalem October 2018 playlist

P.S.S. I hope you get my latest book, Adventures in Courage, just out this November. Paperback or Kindle versions. My 19^th authored publication. (Yes, this is an advertisement!)

  

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$50 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now. Click here: DONATE 

(or use the DONATE buttons on the blog.)

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 on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.  We appreciate your help.

Now Think On This #371 - in the year of our Lord 11.25.18 – “Kill It So It Can Live. Again. – Part 1 of 2)”  Sunday, 4:10 pm