COMMENTARY: Is Christian Love for Israel a Passing Fad?

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 |  Brian Hennessy  ISRAEL TODAY

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Topics:

Christians

Many Christian Zionists, when pressed, can’t really explain how they fell in love with Israel. Or why. Over and over you hear them say – “It just happened to me.” One minute they were totally ignorant and uncaring about the Jews and Israel, and the next they were passionate Zionists. Writing letters to newspapers to protest slanderous columns written against Israel. Volunteering to help scrub anti-Semitic graffiti off a local synagogue wall. Attending every pro-Israel rally within driving distance. And trying to figure how they can scrape up enough money to visit Israel.

Often they discover to their dismay they are the only one in their church who cares about Israel. And when they try to explain why Israel matters to fellow congregants they get that same blank stare they got when they told their non-Christian friends they just got saved.

Clearly this awakening of love has a divine origin. Who can explain it? But how will this historic courtship end? Is this love affair as doomed as Romeo and Juliet? Or as short-lived as a Hollywood romance?

One could hardly blame the Jews for not thinking so based on the most popular Christian end-time teaching called the Rapture. How many times have we publicly repented of our silence during the Holocaust? And sworn never to abandon Israel or the Jews again? Yet many Christian Zionists hold to this teaching that promises to fly them off to heaven at the first sign of trouble. Just when Israel needs us the most.

I don’t want to speculate here about how God’s salvation plan will unfold, or when. But if we truly believe Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel, and not just the church’s Christ, then his rescue plan must include “all Israel.” Both Jewish and non-Jewish elect. Which means His last-days salvation plan will somehow bring us alongside Jewish Israel to stand with her. And not leave her in the lurch.

Jesus, Jeremiah and Daniel all described the Great Tribulation as a time of unparalleled anguish that will overpower the whole earth with evil, including Israel. Jeremiah declared, “It is the time of Jacob’s distress!” But then quickly added, “But he will be saved from it!” (Jer. 30:7)

And Daniel told us that that when this “time of distress” occurs Michael will arise to protect the nation and “everyone who is found written in the book shall be rescued.” (Dan. 12:1)

I ask you, we who have come forth from the nations through faith in the Jewish Messiah – are not our names also written in that book? Is not the title of the book revealed at the end of the Bible to be – “The Lamb’s Book of Life?” (Rev. 21:27)

So I would say this courtship between Jewish Israel and the followers of Yeshua now awakening to the Hebraic roots of our faith will blossom into a full-blown, God-blessed family reunion. And we will all live happily ever after. To which I raise high my glass of Manischewitz, and toast, “L’chaim!” And forward Moses and Paul’s heartfelt wedding congratulations – “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” (Rom. 15:10).

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Israeli Tourism Increasing Again

CBNNews.com

Monday, August 10, 2015

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- The first half of 2015 saw Israeli tourism return to 2013 levels, after the drop that followed last summer's military incursion in the Gaza Strip.

One year later, the Central Bureau of Statistics said 26 percent more tourists visited Israel in July 2015 than a year ago, when Israel responded to Hamas rocket fire and terror tunnels with a 50-day military incursion called Operation Protective Edge.

The number of tourists last month returned to the 2013 numbers, according to a detailed breakdown of numbers and entries into Israel.

In its report, the bureau differentiated between tourists, who stay more than one night, and visitors who arrive on cruise ships or to spend a day in Israel.

Why Abortion Is Not Women's Health Care - J. Lee Grady

Why Abortion Is Not Women's Health Care

8/5/2015 J. LEE GRADY  charisma magazine

Unborn babies are NOT for sale. (iStock photo )

How much money can an abortion clinic make by selling fetal tissue to a medical research company? It all depends. If you don't use too much suction, and you can extract an "intact specimen" (that's a clinical term for a fetus that is not butchered beyond recognition), then you might get $30 to $100 each for a tiny liver, thymus or brain stem.

Oh, and those fees are just for "shipping costs."

These are just some of the grisly facts we learned during the past two weeks after conservative journalist David Daleiden posted a series of videos on YouTube alleging that Planned Parenthood is selling baby parts for profit. Planned Parenthood denies any wrongdoing while some Republicans in Congress have vowed to cut off federal funding from the organization.

These videos nauseated me when I realized how callous our nation has become about human life. I felt even sicker when President Obama made it clear he would stand behind Planned Parenthood—and veto any effort to defund it—because it provides "health care for women."

I have always felt it was insane to claim that abortion promotes "women's health" when the facts show the opposite. Abortion may be convenient for some women, and it has been legal in this country since 1973, but no health care provider can prove it is healthy to have an unborn child ripped or sucked out of a woman's uterus before it is viable. Here are three reasons you can never convince me otherwise:

1. Abortion harms women physically and emotionally. Various studies in recent years, including one by Britain's Royal College of Psychiatrists, show that women who have abortions become much more likely to develop cervical cancer, sterility, nervous disorders, sleep disturbances, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Another study revealed that women with a history of abortion face higher rates of anxiety (34 percent higher) and depression (37 percent higher), heavier alcohol use (110 percent higher) and marijuana use (230 percent higher). It has also been shown that women who abort are twice as likely to become heavy smokers.

2. Abortion is sexist. It has always amazed me that women have campaigned the loudest for abortion rights, yet the majority of abortionists are men who profit off of this horrific procedure. It is also a fact that many women, including many pregnant teenage girls, are forced by their fathers or sex partners to have unwanted abortions—resulting in increased trauma for the mothers. Why are feminists not outraged by this?

In India, many families abort female infants because they don't want girls. This is why there are skewed sex ratios—like 1,000 men for every 618 women—in India's Daman and Diu regions. Even though sex-selective abortions were banned several years ago in India, many female babies are aborted or abandoned at birth because of gender discrimination. Why is there not a feminist outcry about this injustice?

Mother Teresa, who ministered most of her life in India, understood the pain abortion causes women. She said: "Abortion kills twice. It kills the body of the baby and the conscience of the mother. Abortion is profoundly anti-women. Three quarters of its victims are women: Half the babies and all the mothers."

3. Abortion is racist. This is the ugly truth few of us are willing to face. African-Americans make up 12.6 percent of the U.S. population, but the Centers for Disease Control reports that black women accounted for 35.4 percent of all abortions in 2009. Of the 55.7 million abortions in the United States since 1973, about 17 million of aborted babies were black.

Abortion kills minority children at more than three times the rate of white children. Today, abortion is the leading cause of death for African-Americans, more than all other causes combined, including AIDS, violent crimes, accidents, cancer and heart disease.

So when people talk about Planned Parenthood promoting "health care for women," I guess they only mean white women. Let's not forget that Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger was an avowed proponent of eugenics—the elimination of "unfit" races. She worked tirelessly to keep minorities supplied with birth control (even though she herself believed abortion should be avoided.)

This might explain why 62 percent of Planned Parenthood clinics are located in areas with high black populations.

It baffles me that our first African-American president would be OK with this, and that a mostly white male Congress would talk about "women's health" when our nation is guilty of government-funded genocide.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter @leegrady. He is the author of 10 Lies Men Believe and other books. You can learn more about his ministry, The Mordecai Project, at themordecaiproject.org. 

For the month of August we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of Charisma.
READ: The 40-Year Odyssey of Charisma

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WATCH: KENNETH HAGIN Prophesies 'Great Days' Are Ahead

Kenneth Hagin

WATCH: KENNETH HAGIN Prophesies 'Great Days' Are Ahead

8/7/2015 CHARISMA STAFF   charisma magazine

"Many shall turn to the Lord. Great days, great times, great blessings are ahead so rejoice and be glad."

Kenneth Hagin Sr.'s prophetic word from the early 2000s is just as pertinent today as it was back then. View the entire prophetic video.

For the month of August we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of Charisma.
READ: The 40-Year Odyssey of Charisma

Join us for giveaways each weekday, pages from our past, and more. We're including an anniversary special where you can get 40 issues of Charisma for only $40!

Love For His People supports Shalom Today Ministries with Moses Julius in Pakistan

Love For His People 

supports 

Shalom Today Ministries 

with Moses Julius 

in Pakistan

We are grateful for our support for Moses and the Shalom Today Ministries kids.

Love the banner too!

Moses Julius added 153 new photos to the album: A day with Orphan kids at McDonalds by Mihnea Andreescu and 23 others.

On 11 of August it is birthday . I spend my time with orphan and deserving kids at Mcdonalds. These lovely children made my day so blessed and precious.I never forget it this moment in my life. 

Moses Julius with Shalom Today Ministries in Pakistan (Lahore)

Israel's History - a Picture a Day "WWI: The Soldiers of Australia Meet the Jews of Jerusalem, 1918"

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

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WWI: The Soldiers of Australia Meet the Jews of Jerusalem, 1918 Posted: 07 Aug 2015 As the British-commanded ANZAC troops moved north after the battle of Be'er Sheva they were greeted as liberators by the Jews of Palestine. New Zealanders were hosted by the Jews of Rishon LeZion, and Australians entered Jerusalem with General Allenby at the end of December 1917. The picture to the left was taken by Bugler J. F. Smith of the 7th Light Horse. "Enlisted 11 October, 1914. Home on ANZAC Furlough in October, 1918." Australian soldiers at the Western Wall These pictures of Jews of Jaffa and holy sites were taken by "R. F. Ingham, 1st L." Jewish Children at Simon's Well in Jaffa  (Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales) Jewish School in Jaffa  (Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales) Rachel's Tomb near Bethlehem (Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales) The Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. In the background is the Jewish Quarter with the prominent domes of the Tiferet Yisrael and the Hurva synagogues (Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales) The Jaffa Gate of the Old City and the Turkish clock tower.  Who are the group of men in front?  (New South Wales Museum)

Alive - Kim Walker-Smith w/ Lyrics (50+ video mix)

Alive - Kim Walker-Smith w/ Lyrics

Published on Jan 18, 2013

Alive by Kim Walker-Smith with lyrics. This video is good to use for both personal and group worship! God Bless!

• Category

  • Music

• License

  • Standard YouTube License

Bill Yount - When The Devil Says, "You Missed It," You Probably Hit The Bull's Eye!

When The Devil Says, "You Missed It," You Probably Hit The Bull's Eye!

Posted: 10 Aug 2015

The devil never wants you to know how much God is using you. He is using you more than you know. Hell trembles because you are still alive. The devil's greatest fear is: You are still here. He has heard how God has rescued you and changed your life.

He heard about the fiery furnace you were in and he saw the fourth man show up. He saw your Red Sea split open. He saw the Lion's Den you were in and saw the mouths of the Lions shut. He has heard about your God who is now causing you to take your family, city and nation. When the devil says, "You missed it," you probably hit the bull's eye!

Blessings,

Bill Yount

        

Franklin Graham: False Teaching Has Diluted God's Word

 8/11/2015 FRANKLIN GRAHAM  charisma news

The evangelist is making a clarion call. (BGEA)

Dear Friend,

What hope is there for future generations? We are faced with moral crisis, economic crisis, political crisis—it seems that wherever you look both here at home and around the world storms are brewing. The only hope is in Jesus Christ. The rapid moral decline we are seeing around us should be a clarion call for every Christian to speak out for biblical truth and to be diligent in sharing the hope of the gospel.

That is why I am committed to taking the gospel to cities across our nation and around the world. This year we have already held 18 evangelistic crusades, preaching the life-changing message of salvation on four continents, and we still have a busy schedule for the remainder of 2015—culminating this November in Tokyo, the largest city in the world. In Japan, less than 3 percent of the population are Christian. Many have put their faith in the yen, and that has failed them. Many have looked to the West and adopted that culture, only to find it leaves them empty and cold. Materialism has become rampant, suicide is now epidemic among young people, and the nation's crime rate is rising dramatically. This will mark my fourth time to preach in Japan—pray with me that many will turn in repentance and faith and respond to God's offer of salvation.

In our own nation, there has never been a greater need for a clear proclamation of the gospel. There are so many voices, and unfortunately God's Word has been diluted by false teaching. Pray for me as I go next to Birmingham and Oklahoma City in the coming weeks, and as we go to a dozen more cities through the end of the year. We are counting on your prayers for the Holy Spirit to move in hearts. I am deeply grateful for your partnership.

Franklin Graham, son of iconic evangelist Billy Graham, is the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse. 

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Poll: Most Israelis Own a Bible, Revere the Word of God

Monday, August 10, 2015 |  Israel Today Staff

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Topics:

Bible

A survey conducted late last month revealed that nearly all Israeli Jews own a Bible, that most revere it as the holy Word of God, and that nearly half the Jewish population still reads from the Scriptures at least on occasion.

The poll was conducted in the run-up to the “Opening the Tanakh” conference at the Herzog Academic College, which was attended by 7,000 Israelis and foreign visitors who were treated to a wide range of lectures and workshops dealing with the Bible and its place in modern society, especially Israeli Jewish society.

The results, originally published in Israel’s largest daily newspaper Yediot Ahronot, showed that no fewer than 95 percent of all Israeli Jews have a Bible in their home.

A full 68 percent of respondents said they revere the Bible as a “holy book,” and nearly half (42 percent) said they read the Scriptures at least infrequently.

Only 15 percent of Israeli Jews said they never read the Bible, and just 9 percent said they have no connection to the Word of God.

PHOTO: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosting a Bible study at his official residence in Jerusalem last year. (Flash90)

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Sharing Love From Sweden - LOVE IN THE CHURCH IS NEEDED - Eva Haglund

LOVE IN THE CHURCH IS NEEDED - Eva Haglund

In the world today we find egoism and lack of love. Also among Christians we can find lack of  love. The church has  sometimes become more of a club than a family as it was meant to b. Some  think the church is a usual building and that we go to church - not that we are the church.  As a temple can be built God also wants this temple of living stones to come together, with Jesus as the cornerstone.

In 1 Corinthians 12 it is written that as in a usual body the members need each other. We need each other with Jesus as the head. We need contact with Christians,  not just in a church building. There needs to be more fellowship and real friendship. Jesus talks about love among Christians in John 15: 12-13 when He says, "This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you." He wants it to be deep friendship among Christians. Jesus also says in John 15: 13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for his friends." He talks here about real friendship among Christians. 

Jesus showed his disciples, His friends, to wash each other's feet. I think it can be a picture of showing care and love to each other, humility as a servant. Jesus gave all for us like a servant in love. He showed the greatest love at Calvary, suffering so much by free will for us. We need friendship with Jesus first. We can understand about having first love for Him in a relationship in the Song of Solomon about  His Bride - the church.

To show love among Christians is like a sermon we can give to the world - that God is love. The world is full of people who need love. Sometimes people who are ill and poor are looked down at even among some Christians. God wants love to flow and that all people are treated with respect and love and seen with the same value.

In John 17:21 Jesus prayed that love will be a testimony to the world. I think it also means  in attitudes and about fellowship, friendship and care. If also Christians stand together as one in an area it is a testimony to the world. Christian cafes can be good when Christians from different Christian backgrounds get together.  Fellowship, care and love also open up for sharing the gospel and caring about people. Talking to people can give opportunities to share the faith.

In John 21 we see that Jesus was eating breakfast with the disciples and had fellowship. In Acts 2:46 the disciples ate in the houses and had fellowship. I think God wants to restore more of this among us. Abraham had a heart of love and care as we see when the angels came in Gen 18. The Bible also talks about hospitality. When Jesus was teaching in a home where Mary was listening at His feet I also think there was fellowship.

We  can read in Rom 9:1-3, "I tell you the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh." We find  here a heart full of love. Sometimes Christians live far from each other but in Acts I do not think people who lived in one area lived so far away from each other. You can have good friends in other parts of the world.  I also think it is good to have close friends where we live . In  Ps 133:1-3  we also read about living close to each other.

It is written, "Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious oil upon the head running down the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion, for there the Lord commanded the blessing, life forevermore."

Even when we go through times of loneliness, as for instance David, God can give back in this area, too. In times of loneliness we can learn to know Jesus better as our first Friend as David and Joseph did. We need  Jesus first but we also need fellowship and love among Christians. I think we are in a new time when God wants to restore more of the love in the church, the spiritual temple, as it was meant to be in preparation of Yeshua/Jesus coming back. We need each other and the world also needs love from Christians.