Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Why Israel? - Steve Martin's latest new book - paperback ($5.65) and Kindle ($1.99)

Steve Martin's latest new book

Available on Amazon

Why Israel? - paperback $5.65. Buy Here

Kindle

Just $1.99

Click to buy e-book version: Buy here

Why Israel?

Steve Martin

Martin Lighthouse Publishing

Charlotte, NC

INTRODUCTION

Why Israel? Why not?

This little booklet consists of messages previously written in my books, which of themselves contain many various themes. I wanted to devote one book to just Israel and the Jewish people, and so this small booklet was compiled.

As you read the following, consider the truth contained in Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, which spell out the commitment of God the Father to choose a people who will be a light to the nations. He chose the Jews, and gave them the Promised Land of Israel.

It does not matter what other national governments try to say, do, or accomplish apart from the plans and purposes of the Lord. They will fail.

His Word is true. It is eternal. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever, and thus His commitment in keeping His promises made to the Jewish people will be fulfilled.

I hope you stand with them in these last days.

Steve Martin

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Why Israel? Page 6
Happy Birthday Israel Page 12
Who Will Stand? Page 16
Crash Course on Israeli-Arab Conflict Page 20
Why Is A Gentile Like You...? Page 26.
Support the Household of Faith Page 30

PHOTOS Page 33

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Page 41

CONTACT INFORMATION Page 43

OTHER BOOKS BY STEVE MARTIN Page 45

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve Martin served with three Christian ministries from 1987-2010, all having a national and international outreach focus. During that time he made 14 ministry trips to Israel, China, India, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom.

On his overseas journeys Steve enjoyed sharing written journal entries with family and friends back home, through Internet media. His light-hearted stories gave an up close and personal touch for those reading along. Many could imagine being there themselves.

His extensive collection of photos taken during these trips, of both local scenery and common people on the streets, has touched thousands through their varied images.

In 2010, Steve and Laurie began Love For His People, Inc, a 501©3 non-profit humanitarian aid ministry. This work touches the natural and spiritual lives of those around them with needed encouragement and strength.

His regular messages Now Think On This, posted on the Love For His People blog, Ahava Love Letters/Now Think of This blog and Facebook, feature words of spiritual enrichment, plus selected photos.

Since 1994, Steve and his good wife Laurie have lived in the Charlotte, NC area, after having homes in Illinois, Michigan and Florida. Now married for more than 37 years, they enjoy their four adult children and spouses, along with six additional grandchildren.

While continuing to serve organizations with his accounting skills, he enjoys writing and growing the ministry of Love For His People, Inc.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Steve Martin

Love For His People, Inc.

P.O. Box 414

Pineville, NC 28134 USA

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople, LoveHisPeople and ahavaloveletters

Blogger: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Website: www.loveforhispeople.org

Our organization, Love For His People, Inc., is a USA non-profit 501(c)3 ministry. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

We welcome your gifts and communications of support, as we continue to provide humanitarian aid to our Israel, India and African connections. We hope you will become connected too along with us, and send a one-time gift or become a regular, monthly friend.

Thank you very much for this consideration!

You can send checks, or contribute through our PayPal account on our website: http://www.loveforhispeople.org/support.html

We send tax deductible receipts for all gifts received for the work of the ministry!

I hope you will enjoy this little booklet. You can also get my five books, all available on Amazon.com and from our ministry office. Please see our contact information on prior page for the address.

This is Steve’s second in the series of messages – to give hope, encouragement, and share the love of the Lord in your daily walk. Includes more than 165 photos

he took in trips to Israel.

Steve Martin’s first four books

- all are available on Amazon

- or from the office

of Love For His People.

Buy now: Why Israel? E-book

Israel can’t rely on ‘weak’ US to deal with Iran - THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

Israel can’t rely on ‘weak’ US to deal with Iran, Ya’alon warns
Tehran has outwitted West ‘in Persian bazaar,’ defense minister says, slamming Obama for radiating weakness worldwide, risking more terror at home

BY TIMES OF ISRAEL STAFF March 18, 2014

Moshe Ya'alon in Knesset on March 11, 2014.

(photo credit: Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon on Monday issued a scathing critique of the Obama administration, declaring that Israel cannot rely on the US to thwart Iran’s nuclear program, accusing the administration of broadcasting weakness throughout the world, and warning that its perceived weakness was inviting further terrorism against US targets.

Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email
and never miss our top stories FREE SIGN UP!

Speaking at a Tel Aviv University event reported by the Haaretz daily, Ya’alon said Israel could not afford to rely on the Obama administration to lead an action against Iran’s nuclear program, and that Israel could only rely on itself.

Israel had believed that “the one who should lead the campaign against Iran is the US,” but instead, “the US at a certain stage began negotiating with them, and unfortunately in the Persian bazaar the Iranians were better,” he said. Therefore, “we (Israelis) have to look out for ourselves.”

Ya’alon’s office confirmed his remarks about Iran, but refused to comment as to whether the defense minister was advocating an Israeli strike on Iran. Ya’alon was widely reported to have opposed an Israeli resort to force against Iran in the past, but the Haaretz report said his comments Sunday indicated that he had changed his stance, and was now inclined to support Israeli military intervention in Iran.

In this Jan. 15, 2011 file photo, Iran’s heavy water nuclear facility is back-dropped by mountains near the central city of Arak, Iran.

(AP Photo/ISNA, Hamid Foroutan)

In his reported remarks Sunday, Ya’alon was adamant that “Iran is fooling the world” about its nuclear program,” but said the West preferred to put off any confrontation — “to next year, or the next term; but it will blow up in the end.” The Iranians had been “on all fours” because of sanctions and diplomatic isolation, but had been allowed to recover, he charged.

The interim deal signed in Geneva in November “is very comfortable for the Iranians,” he said, enabling them to establish themselves as a threshold state “and break out to the bomb when they choose to do so.”

Ya’alon spoke as world powers and Iran are set to start a new round of talks over Iran’s contested nuclear program in Vienna. Iran denies it seeks nuclear weapons. On Sunday Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif predicted that the talks, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, would not produce a final deal. Iran capped uranium enrichment after the six-month interim deal was struck in November, in return for easing non-core sanctions by the West.

Moving to a wider critique of the Obama administration, Ya’alon reportedly stressed several times that the US was radiating weakness in every region worldwide. “The Sunni camp [in the Middle East] expected that the US would support it, and would be as determined as Russia is in its support of the Shiite axis,” he was quoted as saying. “I hear voices of disappointment in the region. I was in Singapore, and I heard disappointment at the strengthening of China and the weakening of the United States. Look what’s happening in the Ukraine; there, to my sorrow, the US is broadcasting weakness.”

Ya’alon, a former IDF chief of General Staff, warned that if the US continued to show weakness internationally, its own national security would be severely damaged. “If you wait at home, terror will come calling again,” he said. “This is a war of civilizations. If you are perceived to be weak, that certainly does not pay in the world. I hope the US will reassert itself.”

AP contributed to this report.

Read more: Israel can't rely on 'weak' US to deal with Iran, Ya'alon warns | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/defense-minister-we-cant-rely-on-us-to-deal-with-iran/#ixzz2wLTHrYt8
Follow us: @timesofisrael on Twitter | timesofisrael on Facebook

Worth The Price - The Great Commission, Part 12 - Rick Joyner

Worth The Price - The Great Commission, Part 12

Week 12, 2014

Printer-friendly version

Rick Joyner

We now understand that having koinonia is essential for the true New Covenant life and for fulfilling The Great Commission.

In the New Testament when someone believed in Christ, they were made disciples, not just converts, and their discipleship began with being “added to the church.” This was far more than just being added to the membership roll. Every part of the New Testament body of Christ is called to be a functioning part of the body to which they are connected. They have a role to play in the life of the body.

It is hard for anyone to discover their gifts and callings in the typical church service, much less have a place to function. Again, these larger services can have an important part in the life of the body, but the real building of the church, which is the place where church life really happens, will be the smaller groups.

Many Christian leaders are fearful of special “clicks” forming from small groups. This can, and likely will happen. But it is part of the maturing process that they will grow beyond if they have a secure and healthy leadership. Our human bodies are formed this way. All of the cells that are meant to be heart cells need to be connected within the heart, and the heart must be connected to the rest of the body, if it is to live.

If we are overly fearful of small groups separating themselves, then we are not mature or secure enough in the Lord to be in leadership. Without a leadership that walks in faith instead of fear, koinonia will not happen. Without the freedom present that enables some groups to separate, the control spirit will be too great for authentic koinonia. Therefore, a secure and mature leadership is crucial for church life.

All relationships go through phases and challenges before becoming mature and stable. Churches do too. If we think that we will wait out the problems and jump in when things settle down, we will not fit in when we try to jump in. The process is essential. The more intense it is, the greater we can expect the purpose and koinonia to be. As we enter more deeply into the time when all of society is falling apart, the koinonia in the church is going to be a strong lifeline to many and become one of the most valuable treasures on earth. It will be well worth whatever price we have paid for it.

Source: Rick Joyner's Word For the Week

Egyptian Man Arrested for Loving Israel on Facebook

Egyptian Man Arrested for Loving Israel

Tuesday, March 18, 2014 | Israel Today Staff

Share on blogger Share on twitter Share on facebook Share on gmail More Sharing Services

Enlarge

Topics:

Egypt

Egyptian security forces over the weekend arrested a young Egyptian man for daring to publicly profess his love for Israel and seeking to visit the Jewish state.

A resident of the Sohag Governorate in southern Egypt, the 24-year-old man came to the attention of police officials after “declaring his love” for Israel on Facebook and personally communicating with several Israelis via the social media website.

According to Egyptian media reports, the young man has a Star of David tattoo on his arm, pictures of Israeli army generals and the Israeli flag in his computer, and keeps a Hebrew dictionary in his home.

He was also allegedly in possession of $100 USD in cash and four national ID cards all listing different occupations.

The young man is said to have admitted to personal contact with Israeli tourists while previously working as a taxi driver in the Sinai Peninsula, and to attempting to obtain a visa to enter Israel earlier last year.

Israel and Egypt have a peace treaty that is supposed to encourage tourism between the two countries. While many Israelis visit Egypt every year, there is very little reciprocal flow.

As far as anyone knows, it is not illegal for Egyptians to be supportive of Israel and visit the Jewish state, but such behavior is certainly taboo in Egyptian society.

Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates from ISRAEL TODAY.

News From the Ancient World Discoveries and Encounters with Biblical Jerusalem

News From the Ancient World
Discoveries and Encounters with Biblical Jerusalem

3/18/2014 | Volume #2

Hezekiah's Tunnel

The rebellion of King of Judah against the Assyrian Empire in 701 BCE placed Jerusalem in great danger. This film depicts Jerusalem's ordeal under the threat of Assyrian siege and Hezekiah's creative solution to the city's water problem. Hezekiah's water system was an engineering wonder that included the hewing of a 533-meter-long tunnel in the depths of the rock...

Hasmonean Building Uncovered

First ever discovery of Hasmonean period building in Jerusalem uncovered in archaeological excavations in the City of David. Josephus wrote about Jerusalem in the Hasmonean period, but this marks the first discovery of original structural remains from this period in the city’s history.

Ancient Curse Tablet Discovered

A rolled-up sheet of lead bearing a Greek inscription was recently discovered in archaeological excavations the Israel Antiquities Authority is conducting in the Givati Parking Lot in the City of David. The sheet of lead is revealed to be a tablet bearing a spell probably written by a professional sorcerer or wizard.

City of David contactus@cityofdavid.org.il via activetrail.com

Rick Joyner: Why is Koinonia So Important for The Great Commission? - The Elijah List

Rick Joyner:

Why is Koinonia So Important

for The Great Commission?

The Elijah List

Why is koinonia [fellowship] so important when we are talking about The Great Commission? One reason we have failed to fulfill The Great Commission has been our tendency of making converts rather than disciples.

The Great Commission is to make disciples. If disciples are not being made, then we are failing in our commission.

What a disciple is has been clearly defined by the Lord. True discipleship is rarely found among Christians today. One reason for this is that true discipleship is not possible without koinonia, as we read in 1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship (koinonia) with one another, and the Blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

As we have covered, this Scripture makes it clear that we simply cannot abide in the light without having koinonia. This is also essential for our cleansing.

I often say jokingly, but truthfully, that we simply cannot mature in Christ the way we are called to without all of the frustrations and irritations of Church life. The frustrations and irritations, the hurts and disappointments, are only a small part of what this experience is meant to be, but they are essential to our development. There are certainly far more positives to experiencing koinonia than negatives, but the challenges help us to mature.

The True Church Life

Either idealism about Church life or rejecting the Church will lead us far from the path of life. True Church life, koinonia, can be one of the most wonderful things we ever experience and one of the most difficult, as is true of any relationship, including marriage. As the Lord taught in the Parable of the Sower, many will depart when testing comes. Many depart from Church, and many are now even departing from marriage when the tests come.

You can never pass a test by quitting.

The breakdown of marriage is related to the breakdown in Church life and vice versa. The same thing that heals one will heal the other as well. The Cross is a vertical post that represents our connection to God and a horizontal one that represents our connection to one another.

One thing that taking up our cross means is that we must have both of these in our lives. Of course, our connection to God eclipses the importance of our connection to one another and must always be kept first. But if we have this and keep it first, we will also have the other. As John also wrote, we cannot love God who we do not see if we do not love our brother who we can see (see I John 4:20-21).

So, what can we do to promote koinonia in Church life? First and foremost, we must seek the presence of the Lord above all things. What good is the most glorious temple if God is not in it? Then we need to pursue relationships, not just wait to be pursued. Barnabas had to go and get Paul. Then they needed to get in the right place before either of them could get released into their own ultimate calling.

In those days, this was a supreme effort. It must have taken months for Barnabas to travel to Tarsus and then back to Antioch. Today it is hard to find those who will drive more than thirty minutes to church. What makes something a treasure is that it is either rare or difficult to obtain.

Koinonia is one of the greatest treasures we can have in this life. It is not cheap or easy to find, but it will be found by those who value it enough not to give up on its pursuit.

The city that God is building, that which Abraham sought, and all true sojourners seek, is built on Jesus with koinonia.

Seeking the presence of the Lord is far more than seeking His blessings, which so much of the present emphasis of church teaching is based on today. He will bless many things He will not inhabit. When He says that wherever two or more are gathered in His name He will be in their midst (see Matthew 18:20), the word "gathered" does not mean merely occupying the same room or space.

It is where they have been "assembled together" like the parts of a bicycle have been assembled together. This is why we are told to "not to forsake the assembling together" (see Hebrews 10:25). This is not just a warning not to miss meetings, but to not fail to be assembled together as we are called to be.

(Photo via Stock.xchange by Timo Balk, edited by Tawny Nelson)

To build a Church where there is actually Church life, koinonia, we must do things to intentionally promote interchange between members. This can include small groups, church fellowship dinners, mission trips, and various other activities. However, gatherings that really lead to koinonia will center on the presence of the Lord. All others can be helpful in getting to this, but just gathering together for activities can fall far short by themselves.

In every spiritual pursuit, we must keep in mind this principle: Between the place where we receive the promise of God and the promised land, or the fulfillment of the promise, there is almost always a wilderness that is the exact opposite of what we have been promised. This wilderness is meant to prepare us for the promised land. Do not be shaken when you start to pursue koinonia and the opposite seems to happen with relationship challenges breaking out everywhere. This is just a sign that you are indeed on the path.

Rick Joyner
MorningStar Ministries

Email: info@morningstarministries.org
Website: morningstarministries.org

Rick Joyner is the founder and executive director of MorningStar Ministries and Heritage International Ministries and is the Senior Pastor of MorningStar Fellowship Church. He is the author of more than forty books, including The Final Quest, A Prophetic History, and Church History.

He is also the president of The OAK Initiative, an interdenominational movement that is mobilizing thousands of Christians to be engaged in the great issues of our times, being the salt and light that they are called to be. Rick and his wife, Julie, have five children: Anna, Aaryn, Amber, Ben, and Sam.

To subscribe to The Elijah List go to:http://elijahlist.com/subscribe

Contents List