Persecution of believers in Yeshua is real in Israel. Just watch this two part video made by a young woman from the town of Arad. The harassment that she and others face there, by the modern day Pharisees, is unreal. Please pray for them.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
A Virtual Mentor
Today my heart is heavy. Just after 4am my best friend left me a voice-mail message, telling me that a man I greatly, greatly admire has developed a sudden and very serious medical condition.
Matt Chandler is Pastor of the Village outside Dallas, Texas. It's the congregation my best friend's parents attend. Through them, I learned about Matt and began listening to podcasts of his teachings. I've also been blessed to visit their congregation many times.
I instantly loved Matt's style of teaching. He is the first teacher of God's word that I ever heard combine solid verse by verse teaching with wicked sarcasm and humor. I don't think he came up with the formula intentionally, that's just Matt. He is smart, witty, and has a sense of humor that I totally get. But, he also has a passion for the Bible and loves to teach it...verse by verse, book by book...unapologetically.
The podcasts are such a gift. We not only get to hear Matt's teachings, but also Matt's vision for how a congregation should be run. How people should and can do life together. Everything from how to run the nursery and Sunday school for kids (they don't just babysit, they pray over those babies!), to how to raise funds for a bigger facility without doing fundraisers (no thermometers on stage for him). His teachings on sex are the most honest and challenging I've ever heard. He shares so openly about every aspect of life, it has been a vehicle for the Holy Spirit to search out every corner of my life...and has challenged me to truly strive to live as an image-bearer of our great God...every moment of every day.
Last year I got to spend some time with Matt. My friend's dad arranged a meeting for us. I thought we were just going to sit in his office for 15 minutes, and that was fine with me.
But Matt greeted me by saying 'let's get out of here'. We got in his car and he drove us to a nearby coffee shop, where he insisted on paying for my drink. We talked for an hour, me asking him every question under the sun and him pouring wisdom and honesty and encouragement on to me. After an hour, I said 'man I could ask you a million more questions'. To which he responded 'go for it'. I said, 'it's already been an hour, don't you need to get back?' 'Nope, I'm good for at least another hour...fire away'. And our conversation continued.
After 2 hours, he finally admitted he really did need to get back for a meeting. We drove back to the office and when we walked in, almost his entire staff was in the lobby waiting. It turns out, Matt was due back an hour earlier for a meeting, but he had gotten the time mixed up. They had been calling him for said hour, but Matt didn't have his cell phone with him. When Matt is meeting with someone, he truly gives them his undivided attention. No cell phones allowed.
Yesterday Matt, who is only 35, had a seizure. He hit his head and had to be rushed to the hospital. It turns out he has a small mass on his frontal lobe. Next week he'll be meeting with doctors to figure out what the next step is.
Matt's response on Twitter this morning: "I am His and confident."
I love Matt Chandler. I love how the LORD works in and through him. And I am so grateful he shares that with all of us.
Please pray for Matt and his wife Lauren and their 3 kids.
And, treat yourself to Matt's teachings. They'll change your life if you let them. As Matt puts it, it's like sitting under a waterfall of God's grace. Tonight I'm praying for an extra big dose of that grace for you Matt...
Matt's Sermons
Matt Chandler is Pastor of the Village outside Dallas, Texas. It's the congregation my best friend's parents attend. Through them, I learned about Matt and began listening to podcasts of his teachings. I've also been blessed to visit their congregation many times.
I instantly loved Matt's style of teaching. He is the first teacher of God's word that I ever heard combine solid verse by verse teaching with wicked sarcasm and humor. I don't think he came up with the formula intentionally, that's just Matt. He is smart, witty, and has a sense of humor that I totally get. But, he also has a passion for the Bible and loves to teach it...verse by verse, book by book...unapologetically.
The podcasts are such a gift. We not only get to hear Matt's teachings, but also Matt's vision for how a congregation should be run. How people should and can do life together. Everything from how to run the nursery and Sunday school for kids (they don't just babysit, they pray over those babies!), to how to raise funds for a bigger facility without doing fundraisers (no thermometers on stage for him). His teachings on sex are the most honest and challenging I've ever heard. He shares so openly about every aspect of life, it has been a vehicle for the Holy Spirit to search out every corner of my life...and has challenged me to truly strive to live as an image-bearer of our great God...every moment of every day.
Last year I got to spend some time with Matt. My friend's dad arranged a meeting for us. I thought we were just going to sit in his office for 15 minutes, and that was fine with me.
But Matt greeted me by saying 'let's get out of here'. We got in his car and he drove us to a nearby coffee shop, where he insisted on paying for my drink. We talked for an hour, me asking him every question under the sun and him pouring wisdom and honesty and encouragement on to me. After an hour, I said 'man I could ask you a million more questions'. To which he responded 'go for it'. I said, 'it's already been an hour, don't you need to get back?' 'Nope, I'm good for at least another hour...fire away'. And our conversation continued.
After 2 hours, he finally admitted he really did need to get back for a meeting. We drove back to the office and when we walked in, almost his entire staff was in the lobby waiting. It turns out, Matt was due back an hour earlier for a meeting, but he had gotten the time mixed up. They had been calling him for said hour, but Matt didn't have his cell phone with him. When Matt is meeting with someone, he truly gives them his undivided attention. No cell phones allowed.
Yesterday Matt, who is only 35, had a seizure. He hit his head and had to be rushed to the hospital. It turns out he has a small mass on his frontal lobe. Next week he'll be meeting with doctors to figure out what the next step is.
Matt's response on Twitter this morning: "I am His and confident."
I love Matt Chandler. I love how the LORD works in and through him. And I am so grateful he shares that with all of us.
Please pray for Matt and his wife Lauren and their 3 kids.
And, treat yourself to Matt's teachings. They'll change your life if you let them. As Matt puts it, it's like sitting under a waterfall of God's grace. Tonight I'm praying for an extra big dose of that grace for you Matt...
Matt's Sermons
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving in Israel
So, as it turns out...I have the greatest job in the world! I get paid to go exploring around Israel and then to make videos about it.
Today I am launching my brand new web series called: Chaim 'B Yisrael or Life in Israel.
The first episode is about some Americans trying to celebrate Thanksgiving in the Holy Land.
I hope you enjoy it!
Today I am launching my brand new web series called: Chaim 'B Yisrael or Life in Israel.
The first episode is about some Americans trying to celebrate Thanksgiving in the Holy Land.
I hope you enjoy it!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Pnina Pie
Pnina Comforti is an Israeli Jew. She owns a bakery and coffee shop in the town of Ashdod.
Some time ago, she became a believer in Yeshua. Since then her life has been turned upside down.
The radical group Yad L'Achim began protesting at her bakery, hanging up signs about her all over town telling lies about her, and the people who give out Kosher certification revoked her Kosher license, thus dooming her business.
Pnina fought all the way to Israel's supreme court to try to get her Kosher license back...and she won! The court ruled that just because she is a Messianic Jew is no reason to label her food as 'un-Kosher'. Still, however, the orthodox Rabbi in charge continues to appeal the case.
Recently Pnina got a death threat. Below is a video I produced about this latest chapter in her life:
Some time ago, she became a believer in Yeshua. Since then her life has been turned upside down.
The radical group Yad L'Achim began protesting at her bakery, hanging up signs about her all over town telling lies about her, and the people who give out Kosher certification revoked her Kosher license, thus dooming her business.
Pnina fought all the way to Israel's supreme court to try to get her Kosher license back...and she won! The court ruled that just because she is a Messianic Jew is no reason to label her food as 'un-Kosher'. Still, however, the orthodox Rabbi in charge continues to appeal the case.
Recently Pnina got a death threat. Below is a video I produced about this latest chapter in her life:
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Freedom of Religion
Unlike many nations in the world, there is no 'separation of church and state' in Israel. In fact it's just the opposite. We were founded, as a nation, for "church" (synagogue in our case). Our 'religion'/beliefs are the foundation of our nation. The freedom of religion is a cornerstone of this tiny Jewish homeland.
Which makes the story I'm about to tell, all the more shameful.
Today I spent the day in Beer Sherva. That is the town that Abraham named, where Isaac lived, where Jacob went out from, where an angel fed Elijah after he fled from Jezebel. Today, sadly, it is known for something far less holy. It was the scene of a riot by extreme orthodox Jews inside a Messianic Jewish congregation.
Here is a description of what happened that day:
on Shabbat, 24 December, 2005, a violent demonstration took place at Kehilat "Nahalat Yeshua" in Beer Sheva, and the orthodox demonstrators even entered and took control of the congregational premises for a period of about 3 hours.
These orthodox Jews terrified the congregation, by storming in and taking over their building right in the middle of their Shabbat service. They vandalized the building, and even threw the pastor into the baptismal pool (mikve).
As a result of this violent demonstration:
8 February, 2007, a lawsuit was filed against Rabbi Yehuda Deri (the Chief Rabbi of Beer Sheva) and "Yad L'Achim (R.A.)" for their involvement in the above demonstration, which seriously violated the right to freedom of religion and freedom of religious expression and faith of the believers who gathered together at the congregation on that Shabbat.
After years of delays, finally tomorrow Rabbi Deri will take the stand, in the trial.
Today I attended an all day prayer and worship gathering at the congregation, to seek the LORD in anticipation of the trial. It was a beautiful day! Believers from, literally, all over Israel and all over the world came to show their support. There were people from Germany, Switzerland, America and everywhere in between, on hand to pray and to sing praises to God. The prayer gathering started at about noon and was scheduled to go until at least 7pm. I left after 5pm, and it showed no signs of slowing down. A constant stream of people continued to come, throughout the day. The Body of Yeshua was truly united today and it was a beautiful sight to see!
Throughout the day, the story of Paul the Apostle was really heavy on my heart. Specifically these passages describing Paul's arrest, beating and subsequent trail:
Acts 22:25: Is it legal for you to whip a man who is a Roman citizen and hasn't even had a trial?
Acts 23:11 The following night, the LORD stood by him and said, "take courage! For just as you have borne a faithful witness to me in Yerushalayim, so now you must bear witness in Rome.
Acts 24:13-16 ...Nor can they give any proof of the things of which they are accusing me. But this I do admit to you; I worship the God of our fathers in accordance with the Way (which they call a sect). I continue to believe everything that accords with the Torah and everything written in the Prophets. And I continue to have a hope in God-which they too accept-that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Indeed it is because of this that I make a point of always having a clear conscience in the sight of both God and man.
Acts 26:6-8 How ironic it is that I stand on trial here because of my hope in the promise made to our fathers! It is the fulfillment of this very promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they resolutely carry on their acts of worship night and day; yet it is in conneciton with this hope, that I am being accused by Jews!
then I love in Acts 26:28 where Agrippa said to Paul, 'in this short time, you're trying to convince me to become a believer in Yeshua!'
and Paul replied, 'whether it takes a short time or a long time, I wish to God that not only you, but also everyone hearing me today, might become just like me...'
God kept reminding me that Paul was the greatest persecutor of the first believers in Yeshua. The first 'Messianic Jews'. And God ended up using Paul as the greatest emissary of His Good News, after blinding him on the road to Damascus and saving His soul.
Please pray for the persecuted Messianic Jews in Israel today. And please pray for Rabbi Deri and all those in the group Yad L'Achim who exist only to persecute Messianic believers. Please pray that God would raise them up to be the next Paul...turning their zeal for hatred of Yeshua into a zeal for sharing His word.
Thank you for reading.
Which makes the story I'm about to tell, all the more shameful.
Today I spent the day in Beer Sherva. That is the town that Abraham named, where Isaac lived, where Jacob went out from, where an angel fed Elijah after he fled from Jezebel. Today, sadly, it is known for something far less holy. It was the scene of a riot by extreme orthodox Jews inside a Messianic Jewish congregation.
Here is a description of what happened that day:
on Shabbat, 24 December, 2005, a violent demonstration took place at Kehilat "Nahalat Yeshua" in Beer Sheva, and the orthodox demonstrators even entered and took control of the congregational premises for a period of about 3 hours.
These orthodox Jews terrified the congregation, by storming in and taking over their building right in the middle of their Shabbat service. They vandalized the building, and even threw the pastor into the baptismal pool (mikve).
As a result of this violent demonstration:
8 February, 2007, a lawsuit was filed against Rabbi Yehuda Deri (the Chief Rabbi of Beer Sheva) and "Yad L'Achim (R.A.)" for their involvement in the above demonstration, which seriously violated the right to freedom of religion and freedom of religious expression and faith of the believers who gathered together at the congregation on that Shabbat.
After years of delays, finally tomorrow Rabbi Deri will take the stand, in the trial.
Today I attended an all day prayer and worship gathering at the congregation, to seek the LORD in anticipation of the trial. It was a beautiful day! Believers from, literally, all over Israel and all over the world came to show their support. There were people from Germany, Switzerland, America and everywhere in between, on hand to pray and to sing praises to God. The prayer gathering started at about noon and was scheduled to go until at least 7pm. I left after 5pm, and it showed no signs of slowing down. A constant stream of people continued to come, throughout the day. The Body of Yeshua was truly united today and it was a beautiful sight to see!
Throughout the day, the story of Paul the Apostle was really heavy on my heart. Specifically these passages describing Paul's arrest, beating and subsequent trail:
Acts 22:25: Is it legal for you to whip a man who is a Roman citizen and hasn't even had a trial?
Acts 23:11 The following night, the LORD stood by him and said, "take courage! For just as you have borne a faithful witness to me in Yerushalayim, so now you must bear witness in Rome.
Acts 24:13-16 ...Nor can they give any proof of the things of which they are accusing me. But this I do admit to you; I worship the God of our fathers in accordance with the Way (which they call a sect). I continue to believe everything that accords with the Torah and everything written in the Prophets. And I continue to have a hope in God-which they too accept-that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Indeed it is because of this that I make a point of always having a clear conscience in the sight of both God and man.
Acts 26:6-8 How ironic it is that I stand on trial here because of my hope in the promise made to our fathers! It is the fulfillment of this very promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they resolutely carry on their acts of worship night and day; yet it is in conneciton with this hope, that I am being accused by Jews!
then I love in Acts 26:28 where Agrippa said to Paul, 'in this short time, you're trying to convince me to become a believer in Yeshua!'
and Paul replied, 'whether it takes a short time or a long time, I wish to God that not only you, but also everyone hearing me today, might become just like me...'
God kept reminding me that Paul was the greatest persecutor of the first believers in Yeshua. The first 'Messianic Jews'. And God ended up using Paul as the greatest emissary of His Good News, after blinding him on the road to Damascus and saving His soul.
Please pray for the persecuted Messianic Jews in Israel today. And please pray for Rabbi Deri and all those in the group Yad L'Achim who exist only to persecute Messianic believers. Please pray that God would raise them up to be the next Paul...turning their zeal for hatred of Yeshua into a zeal for sharing His word.
Thank you for reading.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
A Messianic Jew in Israel
This blog is intended to document the experience of one Messianic Jew living in Israel. A Messianic Jew is a Jew that believes in Jesus (His hebrew name is Yeshua) as the promised Savior or Messiah of Israel.
The Jewish Bible, known as the Tanakh (or Old Testament) promises a Savior throughout its texts. It gives detailed prophecies about how and exactly when the Savior is to come and how we will know who He is.
Messianic Jews believe that the Man known to the world as Jesus fulfilled all of these Tanakh prophecies and has proven Himself to be the Jewish Messiah (in Hebrew Mashiach) and is in fact the Savior of the World, the Son of God, God in the Flesh, the Reconciler of Mankind, The Alpha, Omega, Redeemer, King of Kings, LORD of Lords, etc...
Messianic Jews believe that Yeshua came to earth, born to a Jewish family, had Jewish followers (disciples) and made it clear He did not come to start a new religion, but to fulfill all of the promises of the Jewish scriptures and faith.
Over the years, Gentile followers of Yeshua have morphed this Jewish faith into a complicated system that appears to many as a separate and new religion. Many alleged followers of "Christianity" have twisted scriptures and given a tarnished name to that of "believer in or follower of Jesus".
But, no matter what various people have done with it over the years, the original teachings of Yeshua, if taken in their original form and context, remain the same Truth they have been for nearly 2,000 years.
I look forward to sharing my experiences in this blog, in the days to come. Thank you for reading.
The Jewish Bible, known as the Tanakh (or Old Testament) promises a Savior throughout its texts. It gives detailed prophecies about how and exactly when the Savior is to come and how we will know who He is.
Messianic Jews believe that the Man known to the world as Jesus fulfilled all of these Tanakh prophecies and has proven Himself to be the Jewish Messiah (in Hebrew Mashiach) and is in fact the Savior of the World, the Son of God, God in the Flesh, the Reconciler of Mankind, The Alpha, Omega, Redeemer, King of Kings, LORD of Lords, etc...
Messianic Jews believe that Yeshua came to earth, born to a Jewish family, had Jewish followers (disciples) and made it clear He did not come to start a new religion, but to fulfill all of the promises of the Jewish scriptures and faith.
Over the years, Gentile followers of Yeshua have morphed this Jewish faith into a complicated system that appears to many as a separate and new religion. Many alleged followers of "Christianity" have twisted scriptures and given a tarnished name to that of "believer in or follower of Jesus".
But, no matter what various people have done with it over the years, the original teachings of Yeshua, if taken in their original form and context, remain the same Truth they have been for nearly 2,000 years.
I look forward to sharing my experiences in this blog, in the days to come. Thank you for reading.
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