Unbelievable Life-Size Exhibit in Jerusalem ✡ "Make Me a Sanctuary" - ISRAEL365

And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exodus 25:8 (The Israel Bible™) וְעָשׂוּ לי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם שמות כה:ח v'-a-su lee mik-dash v'-sha-khan-tee b'-to-kham

Today's Israel Inspiration Since the destruction of the House of God, the Holy Temple, we focus on bringing holiness into the world "within the walls" of our personal dwellings. In Jewish tradition, a home filled with spirituality and living within God's precepts, is referred to as a "miniatureSanctuary" - מקדש מאט - "mik-dash mi-at." Bring blessings into your home with a special "Birkat Ha'Bayit," Blessing for the Home, written in both English and Hebrew, from Meir Panim. Get your FREE Blessing for the Home » An Israeli with Soul A person comes to the Haifa branch of Meir Panim without shoes, the branch manager takes care of him. Gotta see it to believe it! Watch here » Israel’s Police Officers Touch Our Hearts! In a northern Israeli city near Haifa, high crime rate and unemployment has led to tense relations between residents and local police. But today, things are changing in a new Israeli model of police outreach. Read more » What a beautiful way to incorporate a piece of Israel into your home! These one-of-a-kind handmade ceramic wall hangings are Biblically inspired and crafted by Israeli artist Naomi Persky. Its beautiful colors and ancient biblical imagery is sure to make this wall-hanging a focal point of any room and serve as an everlasting connection to the Holy Land. Buy now! » Israel Photo Trivia Take a guess and name this famous Jerusalem synagogue (the one behind the "House of Cards" art exhibit!). Send me an email or post your answer on Facebook. Guess on Facebook » Thank You Please help us continue to spread the beauty and significance of the Land of Israel! Sponsor a day in honor of a loved one » “Your Emails are Great” It’s great to hear from so many of you - stay in touch and let us know where in the world you are enjoying Israel365! Stay in Touch » Dear Sir, Your emails are great and I have been forwarding them to two of my friends. I am from Darwen Lancashire UK. Keep up the good work. Jim Wild I just recently subscribed to your website & am looking forward to a great friendship.  My only exposure to Judaism is through the Bible but I understand the importance of loving Israel because God loved Israel & still does.  I want to learn & understand much more & hope to do so through this medium.  May God bless you. Judy Williams, Oregon USA Shalom, Rabbi Tuly Weisz RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

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Michael Moore Explains Why Donald Trump Will Win In November – And It Actually Makes Perfect Sense - Michael Snyder THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

Michael Moore Explains Why Donald Trump Will Win In November – And It Actually Makes Perfect Sense

Posted: 25 Jul 2016   Michael Snyder  THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

Michael Moore is a radical leftist that is trying to destroy everything that America once stood for, but for once he is making sense.  In his recent article entitled “5 Reasons Why Trump Will Win“, he makes a compelling case for why Donald Trump could win the election in November.  I can’t remember the last time I actually agreed with Michael Moore about something, but in this instance I do. 

The American people are very angry and very frustrated, and they want someone that is going to shake things up in Washington.  Needless to say, that is not going to be Hillary Clinton.  According to Real Clear Politics, Trump has won five of the last six major national polls, and top Democrats are starting to understand that they could actually lose to the New York billionaire.

As Michael Moore has pointed out, the key to the election may be the upper Midwest.  That is why it may turn out to be very wise that Trump has picked a running mate from the region.  Residents of the upper Midwest have watched NAFTA and other “free trade deals” turn their formerly booming economy into an area now known as “the rust belt”.  Now that there is a major presidential candidate that is openly speaking out against these “free trade deals”, they will finally have a real opportunity to let their voices be heard.  The following is from the Michael Moore article that I mentioned above…

I believe Trump is going to focus much of his attention on the four blue states in the rustbelt of the upper Great Lakes – Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Four traditionally Democratic states – but each of them have elected a Republican governor since 2010 (only Pennsylvania has now finally elected a Democrat). In the Michigan primary in March, more Michiganders came out to vote for the Republicans (1.32 million) that the Democrats (1.19 million). Trump is ahead of Hillary in the latest polls in Pennsylvania and tied with her in Ohio. Tied? How can the race be this close after everything Trump has said and done? Well maybe it’s because he’s said (correctly) that the Clintons’ support of NAFTA helped to destroy the industrial states of the Upper Midwest.

Since NAFTA went into effect on January 1, 1994, the United States has lost tens of thousands of manufacturing facilities and millions of good paying jobs.  Once upon a time, the city of Detroit had the highest per capita income in the entire country, but now it is a rotting, decaying, crime-infested disaster zone that the rest of the world makes jokes about.
It was under Bill Clinton that NAFTA was implemented, and Bill and Hillary have long been supportive of NAFTA and other “free trade deals” that have been responsible for systematically dismantling America’s economic infrastructure.  Trump has already made this a major theme of his campaign, and the voters in the rust belt states could potentially make the difference in who wins in November.  Here is some additional analysis from Michael Moore…

And this is where the math comes in. In 2012, Mitt Romney lost by 64 electoral votes. Add up the electoral votes cast by Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. It’s 64. All Trump needs to do to win is to carry, as he’s expected to do, the swath of traditional red states from Idaho to Georgia (states that’ll never vote for Hillary Clinton), and then he just needs these four rust belt states. He doesn’t need Florida. He doesn’t need Colorado or Virginia. Just Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. And that will put him over the top. This is how it will happen in November.

But there is another factor that Michael Moore has pointed out that I think we should consider as well.  While most American voters take their votes very seriously, there is a small minority that will let some of the most frivolous reasons imaginable decide their votes.
Some Americans just want a good story.  Others want to stick it to the establishment.  Yet others just “want to see what will happen” if a certain person gets into the White House.  And it seems quite likely that Donald Trump will win the “curiosity vote”, the “anger vote”, and “the twisted sense of humor vote”.  Everyone pretty much knows what we will get with Hillary Clinton in the White House (and it would be horrible), but there is a great mystery as far as what Donald Trump would do as president.  I happen to agree with Michael Moore that this is a factor that greatly favors Trump…

You can take as long as you need in there and no one can make you do anything. You can push the button and vote a straight party line, or you can write in Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. There are no rules. And because of that, and the anger that so many have toward a broken political system, millions are going to vote for Trump not because they agree with him, not because they like his bigotry or ego, but just because they can. Just because it will upset the apple cart and make mommy and daddy mad. And in the same way like when you’re standing on the edge of Niagara Falls and your mind wonders for a moment what would that feel like to go over that thing, a lot of people are going to love being in the position of puppetmaster and plunking down for Trump just to see what that might look like.

But before you get too excited about a Trump presidency, let us not forget that the electoral map tends to greatly favor Democrats.  All Hillary has to do is to win all of the states that she is expected to win and add one battleground state…

Perhaps you enjoy talk of battleground states. Well, there’s a scenario for you, too. First, pick the six “closest” swing states (VA, NH, IA, OH, FL, NC). Got it? Now understand that New Hampshire excepted, Clinton only has to win one of them in order to reach the requisite 270 electoral votes to win.

It remains my contention that the establishment will do whatever they have to do to keep Donald Trump out of the White House.  And now that the general election looks like it will be much closer than anticipated, we may get to see what lengths the establishment is willing to go to in order to get rid of a “problem candidate”.

Hillary Clinton is an utterly evil and extremely corrupt politician, but the establishment absolutely loves her.  She would say and do just about anything to get elected, and the establishment knows that she will do their bidding.

So we shall see what happens between now and November, but personally I don’t see any way that this is going to end well…

God's Message to Those Who Feel Like a Failure - STEVE BROWN CHARISMA MAGAZINE

A kind God allows us to sin . . . and sometimes sin big. (Flickr | Bradley Gordon)

God's Message to Those Who Feel Like a Failure

 7/25/2016 STEVE BROWN  CHARISMA MAGAZINE

The SpiritLed Woman podcast is empowering women weekly to follow their purpose in Christ and boldly walk in faith. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

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There is a direct correlation between a Christian's proclivity to wear a mask and God's proclivity to rip it off.

While this is difficult, remember that it is God's grace. God is a merciful God who, in His mercy, rips off our masks and stomps on our hidden agendas.

A kind God allows us to sin ... and sometimes sin big. Well, maybe it would be better to say that a kind God will clearly reveal your sin to you or He will clearly reveal it to others. He will reveal the greatness of your sin to you or allow you to sin greatly.

An example: Nathan confronted David about his murder and adultery in 2 Samuel 12. If that doesn't make you wince, there's something wrong with you. Then David writes one of the most profound confessions found in the entire Bible, Psalm 51.

Read that psalm and watch God ripping the mask off David. It will give hope to the great sinner (that would be you and me) that God is a gracious and forgiving God. And not only that, you will know the source of David's power, the reason he could write such incredible and moving psalms, and why he is called "a man after [God's] own heart" (1 Sam. 13:14).

The greatest gift that God gives to the people he loves is their sin ... when they know it. And the greatest curse to a Christian is that Christian's obedience ... when he or she knows it.

As I understand it, the Bible teaches that people are sinners because we sin ... all of us. Sin, rebellion and disobedience have infiltrated the fiber of every bit of God's creation and all of God's creatures. That's not because God likes sin. He hates sin because it is destructive and dangerous to everything that is important. It isn't because God doesn't want us to have a good time. He is not the "spoilsport" some preachers and religious folks make Him out to be. It isn't because He takes delight in punishing us when we get out of line. Good heavens, God did just the opposite and perpetrated the greatest injustice in the history of the world, the punishment poured out on his own Son as a "propitiation for our sins" (1 John 2:2).

God allowed sin for His grandeur and majesty (the Bible calls that His "glory") and for your freedom. For God's sake, don't waste your sin; acknowledge it. Don't kick against the goads. Carefully plan your agendas of protection, or tighten the masks lest anyone see. Besides, God, because He loves you, won't let you do it. Then you will be free.

God hates the way the shame, fear and guilt of our hidden agendas and masks rob us of freedom and joy. He hated it so much that He went through a "mess" of trouble and pain to set us free.

After you have suffered enough, been embarrassed enough, been wrong enough, and sinned enough, He will hug you and invite you to a party He throws for people who are really free, who don't care much what others think, and who have been deeply loved when they didn't deserve it.

You'll be better for it.

I know, I know. I hate it when people say that to me. But in this case, it's true. Maybe not "better" but free—and that really is better.

Adapted from Steve Brown's book, Hidden Agendas: Dropping the Masks that Keep Us Apart (New Growth Press). Steve Brown is the founder of Key Life Network, which exists to communicate that the deepest message of the ministry of Jesus is the radical grace of God. Having spent 25 years as a pastor, Brown now devotes much of his time to the radio broadcasts Key Life and Steve Brown, Etc. Keep up with Steve Brown at www.keylife.org, on Facebook (Dr.SteveBrown) and via Twitter (drstevewbrown).

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3 Biblical Meanings of the Word 'Israel' - REVIVEISRAEL.ORG STAFF CHARISMA NEWS

The Torah (Flickr )

3 Biblical Meanings of the Word 'Israel'

 7/26/2016 REVIVEISRAEL.ORG STAFF  CHARISMA NEWS

As Christians, how are we to relate to Israel? How do we connect with her?

In Romans 11:17-24, Paul likens this vital, organic connection to being grafted into the Olive Tree of God's covenant family. For a complete understanding of this teaching, we have to first understand that the biblical term "Israel" has three primary layers of meaning:

1. The Jewish people – "Israel" (Prince with God) first appears as the name bestowed by God to Jacob after his famous wrestling match with a divine messenger in Genesis 22. At this foundational stage "Israel" is simply the name given to the great patriarch of the 12 tribes of Israel and later to their offspring. By covenant, God thus forever identifies Himself as "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ... the God of Israel." So, "Israel" is the physical descendants of these patriarchs, who later become known as the Jewish people.

2. The nation of Israel and the land of Israel ­– Some 400 years later, the population of the tribes of Israel had greatly multiplied, and together they were ready to become a nation. At Sinai, the people received the Torah/Law containing the basic elements that will define their culture, laws, and society. After entering the Promised Land, there is another covenant which establishes the nation as an eternal, Messianic kingdom under David and his descendants (2 Sam. 7). This nation/kingdom has Jerusalem—the City of David—as its eternal capital.

3. Israel, the saved remnant – This is where things get a little tricky. In the NT, and especially in the theology of Paul, we learn that in every generation there is a spiritual subset of the wider Israel—a saved remnant in which the fullness of God's promises to Israel are realized. On the outside, this group of Jewish people looks like everyone else and speaks the same language; but on the inside, their hearts are born again, "circumcised" and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Even when it appears—as has been the case throughout most of history—that the majority of Jewish people are not faithfully responding to God's graceful revelation for that generation, God's Word of promise to the whole nation is still true because of the holy remnant. (Rom 11:16) This is just as true in Elijah's day, Paul's day, and our day—because "not all Israel is Israel." (Rom 9:6; 11:1-7) What's more, under the New Covenant even believing Gentiles can be "grafted in" to this covenantal olive tree of faith in the saving grace of the God of Israel. (Rom 9:24; 11:17) So, Israel is the remnant people of faith in Jesus—first to the Jew and also to the non-Jew, together as "One New Man" (Eph. 2:15).

In summary, one and two refer to Israel as physical realities, while three refers to Israel in a more mysterious, spiritual way. All three are biblically valid expressions of what the Bible means by "Israel," and we may find ourselves connecting to one or the other at different times. But Romans (especially 11:11-26) and Ephesians (2:11—3:6) teach that the "fullness" of the revelation of God's plan for Jew and Gentile (Israel and the nations) depends on us rightly discerning His priorities of "grafting" in the Olive Tree.

Paul's letters teach us that under the New Covenant the fullness of the mystery of God's intention for "Israel" is found in Christ (Messiah), and by aligning the relations between Jew and Gentile according to all His covenants with Israel: people, nation and remnant!

(In part two of this series, we will look at what these relations may look like practically.) {eoa]

For the original article, visit reviveisrael.org.

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Do We Have the Faith of Our Fathers? - Brian Hennessy ISRAEL TODAY

Do We Have the Faith of Our Fathers?

Tuesday, July 26, 2016 |  Brian Hennessy  

ISRAEL TODAY

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Bible

Or do we just have a religion?

For most people, the word “faith” is but a synonym for “religion.” People ask, “What faith are you?” Meaning, are you Christian? Jewish? Hindu?

But in the Bible, “faith” is not presented as a religion in the traditional sense. Rather it is revealed as the unshakeable conviction that the words we heard God speak to our heart are absolutely true. “Faith comes from hearing” (Rom. 10:17). And our faith is revealed when we act upon those words as father Abraham did. 

That means, no religion should be termed a “faith,” because no faith is needed to practice a religion. “Religion,” from the Latin word religari, means “to bind.” It simply binds its adherents to a written set of doctrines and practices that only require intellectual assent and will power. It is something any devout follower can subscribe to without exercising a shred of faith.

In short, religion is law. And law and faith, like oil and water, don’t mix. It matters not if it is the very Law of God handed to Moses on Mount Sinai (Gal. 3:12). Or the man-made rules imposed on Christians from church councils. Or Sharia as quoted from the Koran to Moslem. It’s all an attempt to gain the approval of Deity by obedient performance – not by faith. 

The truth is God could care less about all our religious attempts to gain favor with Him, “For without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Him must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). 

Now I raise this issue because I see how a fundamental misunderstanding about “faith” could become a hindrance to building a deeper relationship between Christians and Jews who love Israel. For it is written, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) And how can we “be agreed” if our core beliefs are tied to incompatible, and at times hostile, religious systems? 

Worse, the two religions of Christianity and Judaism today have so many variations it’s hard to say which one truly represents our respective beliefs. For a Roman Catholic is as different from a Quaker in his theology and practices, as a Lubavitcher from a Reconstructionist.

Yet, in spite of all the obstacles, a new warmth has blossomed between us, knitting the faith-filled members of our two communities together in a way not seen since the first century. It‘s a warmth that can only be understood as divine intervention. The question is, how do we keep our religious differences from smothering what God has started?  For there are certainly many on each side who would see us retreat again behind doctrinal walls.  It is a pressure we must resist at all costs! 

I believe the way forward is to realize that we who love Israel represent the only two communities on earth actually founded on faith. And we each need to grab hold of that understanding with both hands. Because even though no religion can be considered true faith, faith could be described as God’s one true “religion.” As both God’s prophet and apostle have declared, “The righteous man will live by faith” (Hab. 3:4; Gal. 3:11).

It was this foundational principle that gained Abraham the most ringing endorsement found anywhere in Scripture: “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (Gen 15:6). That’s why Isaiah points to him as our model: “Listen to me you who pursue righteousness, who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father…when he was but one I called him, then I blessed him and multiplied him” (Isaiah 51: 1,2).

The first thing we should learn from Abraham is that righteousness is a reward for faith, not for obedience. Otherwise it would have been written, “Abraham _obeyed _God, and it was reckoned to him as righteous.” Obedience must follow belief, but it is no substitute. 

Unfortunately, both Christians and Jews have historically put obedience to religious precepts first. It certainly tripped up many Jews when Messiah came in the first century. “For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own [through obedience to the Law] they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God” (Rom. 10:3). And it will also trip up many Christians who are not walking in faith at his second coming. 

Obviously, Christians and Jews are not on the same page yet about Yeshua being the means to obtaining God’s righteousness. Nevertheless, many in both camps do believe God is restoring Israel today.

 We just need to nourish that faith and let the love of God heal the wounds we‘ve inflicted upon each other over the centuries. 

Brian Hennessy is author of Valley of the Steeples

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Will Yet Another Israelite Save Egypt From Famine? - Tsvi Sadan ISRAEL TODAY

Will Yet Another Israelite Save Egypt From Famine?

Tuesday, July 26, 2016 |  Tsvi Sadan  ISRAEL TODAY

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Egypt

Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent historic visit to Africa didn't receive proper coverage in the media. Behind the ceremonies and mutual compliments lies a fundamental recognition that Israel is a power to be reckoned with, and not just in terms of raw military strength. 

African nations are fascinated with Israeli ingenuity. Being less influenced by the African-Arab countries, Kenya and Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania are now looking forward to African-Israeli cooperation. According to Netanyahu, the African leaders spoke with him about the need for "regional and international cooperation in all areas, including cyber-defense, data-gathering, promotion of new technologies and development."

Following Netanyahu's foray, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry arrived in Israel. Those familiar with Israeli-Egyptian diplomatic relationships know how exceptionally rare this visit was. The arrival of such a high-ranking Egyptian official right after Netanyahu's successful visit to Africa could be seen as acknowledgement that Egypt needs Israel as a trusted arbiter in Egypt-Ethiopia negotiations regarding the allocation of Nile waters. And, indeed, that would be a most interesting reversal of roles.

Zvi Bar'el (Haaretz) and Evgeni Klauber (Mida) have both proposed that Shoukry's visit has to do with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that is supposed to be finished next year. This dam will dramatically affect the flow of the Nile upon which Egypt's entire livelihood depends. 

Since 2011, Ethiopia has to date spent $4.8 billion on the project, which aims to dam the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border. Ethiopians take great pride in the project and believe that "the Blue Nile river - in the Bible it is called Gyion [Gihon], being one of the three rivers that water the Garden of Eden." 

But the dam will impact nearly all of the Nile waters, making it a direct challenge to the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement between Sudan and Egypt, which The Ethiopian Herald has termed "the Faustian agreement by Egypt and Sudan under the British colonizers."

In 1970, then-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat said that it was better for Egyptian soldiers to die on the battlefields of Ethiopia than to die of thirst in their own country. Three years ago, former-Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi made it clear that "Egypt’s water security cannot be violated at all" and that "as president of the state, I confirm to you that all options are open."

Amidst such high tension these two countries need a third party that both can trust. Last year it was Palestinian official Mohammed Dahlan who mediated the dam agreement. The drastic pushing aside of the Palestinians in favor of Netanyahu is a clear indication of the deep, often unseen, African change of attitude toward Israel.

PHOTO: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Jerusalem, on July 10, 2016 (Flash90)

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