Saturday, April 19, 2014

Derek Prince - Inspiring Quotes to Live By

Following are quotes of Derek Prince, a Bible teacher with whose office staff I had the blessing to serve with, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. (1987-1990) and Charlotte, NC (2001-2005). 

I consider Derek to have been one of the best Bible teachers I have ever known.

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People












The "Other" Passover Commemoration -- The Samaritans Still Sacrifice the Pascal Lamb (Updated from two years ago)

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta)


Posted: 18 Apr 2014
Samaritan high priest Yitzhak ben Amram
ben Shalma ben Tabia (circa 1900). View
other pictures of priests here and here
The Samaritan population in the Land of Israel numbered more than a million people 1,500 years ago, according to some estimates.  This ancient people lived in northern Israel and claimed to have been descendants of those tribes of Israel which were not sent out into the Babylonian exile.  One line of Samaritans traces their lineage back to Aaron the priest, and they consider their "holy mountain" to be Mt. Gerizim outside of Nablus (Shechem) -- not Jerusalem.  

Samaritan family (1899)






The Samaritans worship the God of Abraham, revere a scroll comparable to the five books of Moses, and maintain Passover customs, including the sacrifice of the Pascal Lamb. 


Samaritan synagogue in Shechem
(1899). Also view here

Jews ceased the Passover sacrifice with the destruction of the second Temple.


Already in Talmudic days, Jewish authorities rejected the Samaritans' claims to be part of the Jewish people. The Cutim, according to rabbinic authorities, arrived in the Land of Israel around 720 BCE with the Assyrians from Cuth, believed to be located in today's Iraq.

Over the millennia, the Samaritans almost disappeared.  Persecuted, massacred and forcibly converted by Byzantine Christians and by Islamic authorities, the Samaritans' community today numbers fewer than 1,000 who are located on Mount Gerizim near Nablus (Shechem) and in Holon, Israel.


Baking matza on Mt. Gerizim (circa 1900)

 This year, the Samaritans celebrated their Passover on Sunday, April, 13, 2014.


Preparing a lamb (1900)


































The photographers of the American Colony photographed dozens of pictures of the Samaritans' sacrificial service.  Their photos, and other early photographers can be found in the Library of Congress online archives.


"The prepared carcasses
ready for the oven" (1900)


Praying on Mt. Gerizim (1900)


















According to Samaritan officials, the community totals 751 persons.  Here is the breakdown with the first figure showing the number near Nablus (Shechem) and the second number showing the number living in Holon.

On January 1, 2012, the Community numbered 751 persons [353 in Kiryat Luza-Mount Gerizim, Samaria; 398 primarily in Holon in the State of Israel: 396 males [190:206] and 355 females [170: 185].  These included 350 married persons [158:192], 215 unmarried males [104:111], 153 unmarried females [70:83];  7 widowed men [4:3]; 23 widowed women [15:8]; 2 Divorced Men [0:2]; 1 Divorced Woman [0:1].

 
 Color photographs of a recent Passover sacrifice on Mt. Gerizim can be viewed here.

Passover (Pesach) Seder at Beit Yeshua in Lincolnton, NC

Passover (Pesach) Seder celebrated 
in North Carolina with Beit Yeshua 
Paul Miles and Chuck Anthony

"Moses and Yakov"



 


Doug Williams - Co-Founder of Beit Yeshua



Love For His People - our names



Laurie Martin - lighting table candles

Cathy Hargett - Highway To Zion Founder



Friday, April 18, 2014

Overwhelming Heart - Now Think On This by Steve Martin


Overwhelming Heart
by Steve Martin


“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2, NASU


Has your heart ever been so full that it almost seems that you can’t bear taking in anymore? It is as a Mom’s love for her newborn baby, wanting to hold the child so close to her chest after the nine months of womb time. Or the father, so proud of his son and daughter for sticking it out, when anyone else would have given up the training at their age. Or the grandma’s joy for seeing the grandchild, whom she had prayed for diligently those long years, and make the right decision that would set a good course in the next ones.

My heart sometimes seems to get overwhelmed when I pray for nations, especially the people of Israel. I just want to grab hold of someone there and let some of that emotion and love flow out of me into them, right then.

All of these are wonderful experiences. It is a measurable release of the Father’s love for us, expressed through us, to those around us. Someday we will actually see Him in person, and realize the awesome vastness of His beating heart.

Every Good Friday, when we take the time to again try to fathom the Son’s love for His Father, and how that love was then expressed for all for us, we can imagine more of that reality demonstrated in a most powerful way. As we watch films trying to depict the brutal beating, the senseless Roman scouring, the rugged path to the death hill, finishing it off with the final three nails hammered into His already bleeding hands and feet during the crucifixion execution, it has to awaken something further in our hearts for the Savior.


I believe Yeshua (Jesus) knew some of the agony He would go through beforehand, but even as He sweated blood in Gethsemane, the pain that would be slashing through the nerves of His human flesh was going to be overwhelming. And yet His heart of love, which itself would burst within Him at the end, had to already have been prepared to go through it all. His overwhelming love was able to complete the required mission to the end. Knowing the finish line result would make this worth it - freedom for us from sin and our rightful eternal damnation. Otherwise that would be our judgment sentence if not for the perfect sacrifice of His blood.

I believe this resulting purpose of setting the captives free, freeing us from the bondage of death, and later having us join Him with His Father and now ours, was the joy set before Him. Doing it all for you and I, so we could spend eternity in heaven with them, fulfilled the purpose of His coming to earth the first time as Messiah, the Sacrificial Lamb. His overwhelming heart for the nations - to be with us.

So next time you sense your own heart becoming filled to the point of explosion, know that it is a partial touch from Him, as He shares His love through you. May our hearts grow even bigger, so we can express more of Him to a world needing all of Him.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin
Founder

Love For His People. Inc.
  
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.

Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH  OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 
Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  
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Now Think On This #143 “Overwhelming Heart” by Steve Martin 
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (04.18.14) Good Friday at 4:30 pm in Charlotte, NC.


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


'Jewish School Sends Disciples on a Christian Mission'

'Jewish School Sends Disciples on a Christian Mission'

Friday, April 18, 2014 |  David Lazarus  ISRAEL TODAY
That was the headline hidden away in the archives of a 1966 edition of the popular Hebrew newspaper Haaretz. It is a fascinating inside look at what happened when an Israeli university required students to read the "dangerous" New Testament.
The full article appears in the April 2014 issue of Israel Today Magazine.
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HEAVEN IS FOR REAL - Join The Movement - The Christian Post

Heaven Is For Real
#IBelieve Heaven Is For Real!
You're one of the millions who have read the book. You've seen the trailer at your local theater. Now, get ready for the most inspiring motion-picture event of the Easter season: HEAVEN IS FOR REAL. Now showing in theaters, this movie will have you saying #IBelieve!

Get Tickets Now
The Story
The Story
The Burpos are the perfect picture of small-town Americana: mom, dad, daughter, and son... until a serious illness lands young Colton in the hospital. Fearing they will lose their son, the parents cry out to God. While Colton's amazing recovery should lead his family back to normalcy, they quickly discover nothing will ever be the same again. With childlike innocence, Colton begins talking about having visited Heaven and his incredible experiences there. HEAVEN IS FOR REALtells one family's story about Heaven and the impact it has on their community... and the world.

Watch the Trailer
The Impact
The Impact
"I believe that the film will serve as a great conversation starter to get people talking about God, Heaven, and the afterlife. I also believe that the movie can prove to be very healing and hopeful for those who've experienced loss and need to be reminded of the fact that Heaven IS for real!"
Bryan Hardwick, Small Groups Pastor, Adventure Christian Church, Roseville, Calif.

Learn More
In Theaters
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Source: The Christian Post