Jerusalem: everyone has an opinion. As a Christian, have you fallen out with God?
Shalom from Jerusalem, Israel's eternal capital! Last year ended with political fireworks! On December 6th US President Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, advancing the fulfillment of Zechariah 12:2-3.
Hopes and dreams are a fine thing, even more so when the Lord is at the centre of our plans. Chris Hill explains
The call of the Lord on the life of John the Baptist came early. In fact, according to Luke 1:15, it came in the womb! But it seems John did not give voice to his ministry until he emerged from the Judean wilderness at the age of thirty (Luke 3:2ff). Some gap – but clearly a godly gap. That lengthy period was essential preparation for what followed.
When there is a gap between promise and fulfilment it can test us sorely.
Let me start by saying that my upbringing was very firmly secular. My family made it clear from a young age that belief in a supreme being was the folly of the idiot or those on the lower echelons of society. We were intellectuals and therefore did not hold to any belief other than those based in ‘science’. My family were however, Jewish by race and so we did partake in the Jewish holidays and festivals and even attended the local reform synagogue on a semi-regular basis, however it was constantly affirmed that these were merely cultural exercises and nothing more.
My grandmother was a Jewish communist and was responsible for my firm Jewish identity, herself being brought up in a kosher home. However this also instilled me with socialist principles from a very young age. In fact at a young age I can remember going on Anti-War marches and even telling teachers that I was communist, laughing at those who subscribed to the Christian faith.
Despite this, since I can remember, I have had a keen interest in politics, philosophy and religion. I can remember being eager to go to synagogue at around age nine, not for religious purposes, but again for a sense of heritage. On my tenth birthday I was given a kippah by my mother and father (along with a Complete Works of Shakespeare).
Answers to Objections to the Christian Religion; Remarks on his answer to the Letters which Dr. Priestly addressed to the Jews (Newbury, June 11, 1787)
How truly exceptional Foundations 7 was! I have not been to any of the previous Foundations conferences but for me Foundations 7 was quite literally the best Christian conference that I have ever attended. And I am not prone to exaggeration – knowing full well that exaggeration is a form of lies.
Choices have consequences – what if you don’t choose life…?
They should be places where folk can really connect with each other, with God … and with themselves, all within the framework of solid Biblical teaching and an exploration of our Hebraic roots. They should be times where there is space for God to act, where there is freedom to explore, rather than acting as directed. We believe that the newly-launched Foundations Regional conferences can provide such a place. Have a quick read of these testimonies to see what God did at Foundations 7 national conference:
The Foundations vision began in 2012 in mid-winter as an experiment. After six more “experiments” in subsequent years we finally feel that, with Foundations 7 this April, we have “cracked it”. We have arrived at the beginnings of a model for a different kind of Christian conference, one that is informed by Hebraic principles, rather than the rigid structures that have become the norm in the Christian world. Here’s how David Andrew, one of our Bible teachers, explained it:
This being our third 'Foundations', Agnes and I have been completely won over by the completely 'outside of the box' experience - a feature which has successively developed and improved with each year. Although we are blessed with a great many fine conferences and teachers, it's not normal for Christian gatherings to challenge the stubborn structures of religion that can so easily leave us 'well-taught but still caught' in the sticky webs of western Gentile / Greek religiosity that we have never thought to question because ... we have never thought! Although I'm sure it's not the intention of organisers or speakers or the 'punters', I think that the effect all too often is to provide 'entertainment for the troops' that ensures them a good meal but essentially changes nothing and leaves moribund structures unchallenged. Not so Foundations!
The preservation of Israel and the preservation of the Nazarene are one phenomenon.” This line mulled over in my head as I sat in the back seat of our big blue van. The van twisted, turned, and trudged through the hillside as we made our way toward the heartland of Israel. I had just finished reading Sholem Asch’s book One Destiny in which he addresses the unique relationship between Judaism and Christianity, centered on the Messianic hope present in both religions. I could not help but connect the preservation of this beautiful land out my window to the people of Israel. The road directed our path through the many Arab and Israeli villages that live in constant tension. Sadly, most of the world does not see the beautiful surrounding area. Judea and Samaria have been in the news a lot lately as our people have been under threat of stabbing attacks from terrorists. While the threat is real, there is no place on earth that brings more peace to your soul than the land God promised and gave to his people.
It's been an average kind of week for Jews in Britain. Here are a few recent items which you may have read in the Jewish Chronicle.
A speaker at London's School of Oriental and African Studies claimed that Zionists were mobilising subversive power to "outlaw" criticism of their activities, "Zionism was a parallel movement to Nazism" and Zionists "conspired to try and increase antisemitism in order to force Jews to Palestine".
Sheffield Hallam University in South Yorkshire was ordered to compensate a disabled Jewish student for failing to address his complaints about rampant Jew-hatred and Israel-bashing on campus.
He had complained about social media posts written by Sheffield's Palestine Society which included the blood libel that Israel harvests the organs of Palestinians, compared Bethlehem to the Warsaw Ghetto and referred to Zionists as Nazi criminals.
A Facebook group for UK Independence Party supporters suggested there was a Jewish conspiracy behind last week's High Court ruling against the Government over leaving the EU.