Questions I am being asked about the Jerusalem Journal - Brian Schrauger

Brian Schrauger   The Jerusalem Journal Last week was the first time I sent you, and several others, a personal email about my new endeavor, the Jerusalem Journal. If you missed it, you are welcome to read it here. In response to what I wrote, several questions have come up. Here are nine of them...   1. What are you trying to do?   The Jerusalem Journal's mission is... ...to provide Israeli-centered news from Israel and specifically for believers around the world. The idea is to educate, enlighten and inform so that believers better understand Israel's perspectives and intercede for it accordingly. Anyone is welcome to read our news, but it is produced with non-Jewish believers in mind.   ...to provide a news platform for "righteous Palestinians." Unknown to almost everyone, a large number of Palestinians do not support the anti-Israel narrative of their leaders. They are unknown and unheard because it is dangerous for them to take a public stand. But there are a few who are willing to speak out and write the truth. They have the potential to be a healing force with their people's Jewish neighbors. What they need a platform and some tutoring. The Jerusalem Journal can give them these things.   ...to combat the resurgence of "Christian anti-semitism," an ideological and spiritual virus that is returning in force among all "brands" of Christians, including evangelicals. Today that ideology usually calls itself anti-Zionism. But its malice and objectives are just as vicious, just as devious and infectious as European anti-semitism in the 1930s. The idea is to report the conduct and arguments of those who promote this re-branded ideology in order to inform, and hopefully inoculate, believers around the world. News is a good vehicle for doing this. To support these objectives, click here.   2. Brian, how much money do you need? For personal living expenses, I need a regular income stream of $3,000.00 a month. Right now, I am receiving 10 percent of this. To help with this need, click here. 3. What are incomes and costs-of-living in Israel? Compared with the US and the UK, the rule of thumb is that prevailing incomes are about half the level of wages in these countries. At the same time, the cost of living is about double. To assist with day-to-day living costs, click here.   4. For what else do you need money? The main financial needs are for operation and growth of The Jerusalem Journal. ✡ Thanks be to God, I have a full-time administrator volunteer or, officially, Managing Editor. His name is James Worthington. A New Zealander, James and his family, including 3 children age four and under, live in Jerusalem. Like me, James is raising the support he needs to provide for himself and his family. Even so, like other volunteer organizations in Israel, the Jerusalem Journal should pay volunteers a stipend.   That amount is $500.00 to $1,000.00 per month. As more volunteers come on board, this will need to increase by at least $500.00 a month for each full-time volunteer. To help with this need, click here.   ✡ The Jerusalem Journal needs money to pay journalists. I have a lot of excellent talent that is willing to write news on a freelance basis, including two "righteous Palestinians." But in order to get quality material, I need to pay them, at the very least, $100.00 per article. To do the kind of quality news I know we can provide, I need a starting budget of $2,000.00 per month to pay freelance journalists. To underwrite this, click here.   ✡ We need an editor who can cover for me on days when, like today, I am unable to do news. A Weekend Editor is also needed to identify and post stories on Saturday and Sunday. Again, getting the right person means we need to pay her or him. I think we could get what is needed, at least for now, with $500.00 to $1,000.00 per month. To sponsor this, click here.   ✡ Right now, the offices of the Jerusalem Journal are my flat. This is doable for the near term, but in the not-too-distant future we will need dedicated office space. At the start, we should be able to get something for $500.00 to $1,000.00 per month. To help pay for this, click here.   ✡ The Jerusalem Journal has an immediate need for four new computers, a printer, and a budget for office needs. The computers that we need are MacBook Air models. Far and away, these are the computers-of-choice for journalists. They are portable, powerful, and these days almost weightless. With a full keyboard and high-res screen, they are easy to use for writing while on the go.   These computers should be available for about $2,500.00 each. Yes, I am happy to receive donated machines! A printer can be had for $200.00. Give to this important need by clicking here.   ✡ We really need a car. Public transportation is acceptable in Jerusalem. Still, it is not ideal. In order to obtain stories elsewhere in the country, public transport is simply not doable. The kind of vehicle we need should comfortably seat six to eight people and their luggage.   Our vehicle should be fuel efficient but have enough power to maneuver Israel's hilly terrain while carrying a full load of passengers and their luggage. It should require minimal maintenance. All in all, I think this points to a hybrid. Kia's are popular here. Perhaps one of their models will work for us.   We do not need to own a vehicle. If it is more cost effective, we could lease one.   Because, generally, vehicles here cost twice as much as in the US, we need $50,000.00 to buy, insure and provide maintenance. If we lease, we will need a total of $1,000.00 per month. Help us get to stories throughout Israel; click here. 5. What else do you need? We need volunteers. Some of them need to live here, in Israel. Others can help wherever they live. Top-level positions we need are: ✡ An executive personal assistant ✡ Someone to head up all marketing ✡ Executives for... Website management, classified ads, blog development, event bookings for JJ journalists, email management, website advertising, estate Planning, and grant writing. ✡ Other roles include proof-readers and story promoters. The latter are people willing to spread JJ stories using social media, especially Facebook Groups. A team of people to do this would be a huge help. To volunteer with the Jerusalem Journal, click here. 6. That's all you need? No, it isn't! We need your referrals! Do you know someone who is perfect fit for partnering with the Jerusalem Journal? Someone who is likely to share our vision? Someone about whom God himself is prompting you? Please, send referrals! If you would like us to make contact, send your referrals names and email addresses to James Worthington at ManagingEditor@JerusalemJournal.net We also need a board of qualified, godly advisors. And a global team of intercessors. To suggest an board member or to volunteer as an intercessor, send me a text, would you? 7. Can I designate my preference for how the Jerusalem Journal will use my financial gift? Yes, you can. Add this, or anything else you want to say, in the Comment box on the Jerusalem Journal's donation page. 8. What is the best way to get in touch with you, Brian? The best way is by text, using SMS, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. How to do this? See below. You are also welcome to call, but please, text me first so that I know who is ringing. Email is the least effective way to reach me - at least until I have a personal assistant to help with it. I get so many emails every day, they quickly "sink" below the computer screen. 9. How often will you send these personal emails? The plan is to send one every Wednesday. If there is a subject you would like me to address, let me know. :-) Do you have more questions you would like me to answer? Send them on. I look forward to hearing from you about any one of these things. For your encouragement, support, response and prayers, toda raba. ~Brian Note: because the Jerusalem Journal is a US nonprofit, your donation may have tax benefits. Please check with your accounting advisor.   Also, you are welcome to respond by phone, text or email. If you phone, please send an advance text so that I know who is calling. And if I am unable to answer, please, send a text. Toda raba. :-) ✡ My Israeli mobile number is +972​.53.337.1108. ...From the UK, you can reach me on my Israeli mobile using this UK number: +44 203.807.4211 ...From the US, you can reach me on my Israeli mobile using this US number: +1 312.818.3578 ✡ Using the Israeli number, you can add me to your WhatsApp list for encrypted, international texting. ✡ If you are on Facebook, its texting service, Messenger, is a helpful tool that I often use. ✡ On Skype, my ID is domelot.   ✡ And the fastest way to reach me by email is by sending to either BrianSchrauger@JerusalemJournal.net or Brian@ZionComputer.net I look forward to hearing from you. :-) Add me to your address book: BrianSchrauger@JerusalemJournal.net The Jerusalem Journal

Healing. I Still Have Questions Too. - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Healing. I Still Have Questions Too.

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

Healing, as in miracles and instantaneous recovery, has always been a challenge to me. It may be true for you also. There have been many times I've asked our Lord Jesus, "Why not?" when healing doesn't come as soon as we'd desire, either for our self or others. It has been an ongoing question millions have asked God over the centuries.

Having read many books on the subject myself, with so many of them out there, I know it is one concern shared universally. Even in this modern era, with top-notch medical staff and medication sales in the annual multi-billions, many suffer with ongoing, unhealed conditions. And so the usual question keeps coming up. Why?

To share with you a brief personal history, I had the privilege of teaming with a world-wide known healing evangelist for over a decade, myself witnessing true miracles. Even after seeing with my own eyes the Lord Yeshua giving supernatural, instantaneous healings, I today still struggle with praying in faith for myself and others for healing, and seeing a miracle happen.

With a recent kidney stone deciding to be an unwanted part of my interior being, the question of healing again arose in a very genuine way. You can bet (I certainly don't recommended that betting ever is done though - just an expression) that I sought the Lord for immediate healing. Being this was my 4th kidney stone in the past 30 years, I thought my deliveries in birth were over. That pain is not something you'd want even an unfavorable one to experience.

And then there is another issue to share, which may help someone else who can relate, having a similar personal situation.

I have had a consistent, annoying cough for over 28 years. Back in 1987 one prominent minister said it was a "familiar spirit." As much as I believe in demonic forces and deliverance, if this was so in this case, it still never wants to obey my repeated commands to go. In addition, doctors have told me over the years that this physical ailment is due to nasal drip or allergies. I even assured the doctors that I have never smoked. (My uncle's cigar puff took care of that when I was 5.) Medications have not helped. Nothing has freed me from it as yet.

And so I continue to cough, no matter what the season. Another one of those things that I have no understanding on or relief from still.

Family members have had chronic inflections. Though we have prayed many times, believing with as much faith as we have, nothing changes in some instances.

So I think, maybe the Emergency Room kidney stone visit was to give me an opportunity to speak to a staff member there? Maybe it was to stretch something in me that only this event would, or could? He works out His purposes in that way too.

The apostle Paul had an ongoing affliction, though not specified in Scripture. Some say it was an eye problem. He wrote that he entreated the Lord three times for healing and release from it. The Lord answered him - His grace was sufficient. He had a purpose in it beyond healing.

Paul’s exact words as found in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 reads, “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (NASU)

Here is some further encouragement from the Word. ‘Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NASU)

So what am I saying? For my peace of mind, I will continue to seek the Lord's healing hand for His touch, while at the same time knowing that He is God, and His plans and knowledge are much higher than mine. Father knows best.

We give thanks for all that we experience in healing from the Lord. Whether it comes in a instantaneous miracle or over a period of time, with whatever method the Lord chooses, we praise Him.

As we walk forward in faith, continue to pray for healing. Still believe He gives gifts as healing from His immense heart of love for us. And above all, trust in our Lord for healing in your life and others.

Finally, leave the results in His hands, and know that all in all He is the One we can always lean on, and trust in. His Word is eternal truth.

I hope you are free in your faith to believe Him for all things and in all things.

This is something to think about.

Love you,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We sure could use your help to bless the families we do in Israel, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and the hurting ones here in the USA. Please give out of the abundance you have been given.

In May, 2016, my wife Laurie and I will be traveling to Israel to spend time with our friends. We support them in word and deed. We have our plane tickets in hand. We love Israel.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

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Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

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Now Think On This #208 “Healing. I Still Have Questions Too.” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2015 (11.18.15) Wednesday at 8:00 pm in Charlotte, NC

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve