|
Viewing 1 - 9 out of 14 Blogs.
Page:
1 |
|
 Are we crazy for visiting Israel? See Below for the calender of Ari Abramowitz's May-June speaking tour Q: We are planning a trip to Israel and many of our friends and family have said that we are crazy for doing so. Do they have a point? How should we respond? Unfortunately, your situation is more the rule than the exception. Based on sensationalized media coverage, many perceive Israel as a perpetual war zone in which chances are better than not that a katyusha rocket will join you for breakfast any given morning. Now that American Fox News has made its way to Israeli cable TV, a colleague of ours mentioned that he was nervous about his upcoming trip to the US. He told us that the terror alert level has just gone from “elevated”(yellow) to “high” (orange). When investigating the governments recommended activities to properly respond to this heightened alert level, he came across the list of elements to be included in the emergency preparedness kit. Due to his lack of hand-crank radios or dust masks, he explained, he was considering canceling his trip and staying home in the relative safety of Israel. In reality, visiting Israel is statistically safer than staying in the US. Based on a study by The University of Maryland comparing homicide rates in 33 different countries between 1955 and 1996, Israel’s average rate was 1.26 compared to 7.88 in the US. When taking the last intifadas into account, Israel’s rate rose to 4.80 which is still significantly lower than that of America. This fear of visiting Israel is no less rational than the trepidation so many share of flying considering the fact that the chances of dying in a car accident, according to the US Department of Transportation, is 1 in 7700 while the likelihood of a airline accident is less than 1 in two million! So much for rational phobias. As a matter of fact, Ari Abramowitz was stabbed in the back in Manhattan after serving on active duty in Lebanon, Hebron, and Gaza! Statistics are irrelevant. G-d created the universe and controls every event from the global to the minute. David did not consider probabilities when confronting Goliath with a pocket full of river rocks and Gideon did not consult a military statistician before widdling his army down to a mere 300 to slay the Midianite force of 135,000. We are to put our fates in G-d’s hands by determining our actions based on their merits and not the probability of our self preservation. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato, one of the most revered Jewish mystics, explains that while every country in the world is appointed an intermediary angel to oversee its affairs, G-d’s level of interaction in The Land of Israel is of the most direct and intimate nature. David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel explained that in Israel “in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.” The State of Israel is the culmination of scores of prophecies in the bible and G-d warns that those who seek her harm will surely meet their demise and are harming “the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8). Despite the plethora of European countries meeting with Hamas and supporting the Hezbollah, when seen through the eyes of the prophets, there is nowhere safer than The Land of Israel. Ezekiel clearly proclaims “When I gather in the House of Israel from the peoples among whom they were scattered, then I will be sanctified through them in the eyes of the nations, and they will dwell on their land that I gave to my servant, to Jacob. They will dwell upon it in security and build houses and plant vineyards and dwell in security when I execute judgments upon all those who despoil them from their surroundings and they will know that I am Hashem, their G-d.” The nations to which many flee for safety will not always be safe, the countries of material affluence and spiritual bankruptcy will not always provide refuge. When Abraham and his cousin Lot separated, Lot chose the greenest and richest pastures of Sodom. Before long, the city was destroyed. He and his daughters were the sole survivors. Despite our greatest efforts at keeping the wool over our eyes, we are facing a world war that may very well dwarf the past two. Governments are preparing for nuclear fall-out and no one is sure where it will strike first. In Kings II, Chapter 19, Isaiah the prophet warns that “from Jerusalem shall emerge a remnant, and survivors from Mount Zion.” Jeremiah explains that “Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in security” (33:16) while Obadiah reassures “On Mount Zion there will be refuge…”(1:17). If you count the prophets as geopolitical experts, and according to their track record you should, Jerusalem is the safest city in the world today! In this life you have to put your faith in something. While many of the cynics who laugh at you for coming to the Holy Land may place their faith in money and politicians, simply explain that your faith is in the G-d of Israel and his prophets, and that your destination is the Holy Land because only in G-d’s hands is there true safety.
Ari's Speaking Tour ScheduleSunMonTuesWedThursFriSat May 16 Albany, NY May 17 Newton MA May 18 Houston, TX May 19Houston, TX May 20 Houston, TXMay 21 Houston, TXMay 22 Houston, TXMay 23 Houston, TXMay 24 Houston, TXMay 25 Raleigh, NC May 26 Raleigh, NCMay 27 Elk Park, NC Saluda, SC May 28 Prosperity, SC May 29 Columbia, SC May 30 Greensboro, NC May 31 Charlotte, NC June 1 Los Angeles, CA June 2 Los Angeles, CAJune 3 Costa Mesa, CA June 4 Bakersfield, CA June 5 Riverside, CA June 6 Sonora, CA June 7 RETURN All events are purely educational and free of charge.
If you are interested in attending any of the above events please contact events@thelandofisrael.com
To schedule a TV, radio, or newspaper interview with Ari or Jeremy please contact speaking@thelandofisrael.com View Ari's entire schedule and leave us feedback online at:
www.TheLandofIsrael.com/calendar To book Jeremy Gimpel for his upcoming August-September 2007 speaking tour:speaking@thelandofisrael.comClick Here to Subscribe to Our Newsletter • Click Here to Visit Our Website   
Nothing extraordinary has ever been accomplished until someone was willing to see things not as they appeared to be, but as they could be. When you can see beyond natural circumstances, and believe with all your heart the vision that you have received, wonderful things begin to happen...providence takes over, and invisible forces begin to work on your behalf to bring that vision into focus and "reality".
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
~Jesus / Mark 11:23,24 (NKJV)~
&nb sp; &nb sp; &nb sp; &nb sp; HIGHLY FAVORED Did you know that as a child of God, you are highly favored? No matter what you may have done in the past, as soon as you make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, you have favor with God!
Mary didn't understand how or why she had God's favor, or what that favor was for. At that moment, she didn't know that she was chosen as a pure and holy vessel to bring Christ to the world. Friend, you have God's favor for the very same reason as Mary – because God chose you and made you a pure and holy vessel to bring Christ to your home, workplace, and even the world.
Stay focused on sharing "the message" of God's love with all those you come in contact with. And remember that today, and everyday, you are highly favored and the Lord is with you!
Heat up your week by burning with a desire to get closer to Our Lord.
Heat up your week by bringing sunshine to someone who needs a ray shining upon them.
Heat up your week by warming up to His Word daily.
Heat up your week by being that flame that sets a spark in someone's life that doesn't know the Lord.
Heat up your week by boiling a good deed.
Heat up your week by raising your attitude towards God.
Heat up your week by baking in His Presence.
TURN UP THE HEAT!!!
&nb sp; Healing "Preliminaries"
(Things You Need To Know To Get Started In Praying For The Sick)
by
Rodney Hogue
Lesson 5
Becomming Men And Women Of Faith
We have been looking at risk and faith from first Kings 13 and 14.
We saw that God honors those who step out in faith and take a risk.
We saw Jonathan take a risk based on what he knew of God's nature
and character and based on the history of what God had already done
for His people. He made himself and his armor bearer vulnerable to
enemy attack, because he had to approach the enemy garrison before
he knew precisely what God's plan was. If God did not come through
for him, he would have been captured or killed. That was a big risk.
Jonathan put his life on the line.
And because he took a big risk, God came through for him in a big way.
God granted Jonathan and his armor bearer a victory that was humanly
impossible. It turned tide in the battle with the Philistines and
resulted in Israel's ultimate victory. The bible states that faith
moves mountains. We can win major victories when we stand in faith.
Big faith involves big risk. But even small faith involves some risk.
Making It Personal
------------------
What about you? God has brought you this far. And God didn't bring
you this far to lose. He did not bring you this far for you to be a
loser. Regardless of how you see yourself, God has called you to be
an overcomer, but you must be willing to risk, and you can't turn back.
Look at Luke 9:62. "Jesus said to him, 'No one after putting his hand
to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.'" We look
at what is in front of us and we think the odds are against me, it is
too overwhelming, it is too consuming, it is too much. But God is
greater than anything in front of you. He is greater than any issue,
any problem, any habit, any hang-up, any compulsion, any problem, any
relationship issue, anything that is there, God is greater than all
of that. God can get you through.
God doesn't need many to accomplish His work. Just think about the
effects of what Jonathan and his armor bearer did. The Israelites
got an army together. They thought they were in good shape. The
Philistines responded by bringing an incredibly massive army. And
then Israel cowered in fear. They ran -- some got away. Some tried
to escape. Some found caves to hide in. They hid from the enemy
because they wanted to avoid the conflict. They ran away in fear
because a large massive army assembled.
In the midst of all of that, one man with his armor bearer went up and
defeated a bunch of Philistines. He killed 20 of them and was untouched.
Do you see the picture here? God only needs a few. We are kind of like
the Marines. God is looking for a few good men and women of faith. He
is just looking for a few who would be willing to risk, to take the risk,
and to get started.
What have you been putting off? The last few weeks, God has been
convicting a lot of us of a lot of different things. "And God, I'll
get around to it. Yes, I'll get started on that." That's why I kept
saying, "What can you do today? What can you do this week?" Now think
back. Have you gotten started on anything? Many of you have. Many of
you haven't. It's time to get started. It's time to take the initiative.
It's time to get going.
The struggle is there anyway regardless. You are going to have struggle.
But you just are going to have the choice of what kind of struggle you
want. To seize the assets of darkness or have darkness try to seize
yours. You just get the choice what struggle you want. Risk is going
to be there. But if you will just take the risk and not turn back, take
the initiative, God will honor that and God will come through. God's
promises are sure. God's promises are true. What God said He will do,
He will do. "If My people will then I will." God is waiting to activate
His power. Let's activate it. Let's get started. If you don't know
where to start, start with the obvious. Read the Word. You will find
plenty of obvious things in there. Read the book of James to get very
specific. A lot of obvious things in there. Get started. Don't put it
off.
Let's pray.
Oh Lord, we thank you that you are just waiting to release Your
power in our midst. We thank you, God, that you are waiting,
just waiting Lord, for us to do the things that we need to do in
order to activate Your power. Lord, there is so much fear and
anxiety. The enemy has lied to us and we believe those lies.
We think those circumstances are too great, too overwhelming
because we are looking at them in the light of what we can do
not in the light of what You can do.
Give us the eyes to see that regardless of the odds that are in
front of us, You're greater than those odds. There is no problem
or anything. Not even the things that we have gotten ourselves
into because of our own sin or our own flesh. Even the mistakes
that we have gotten ourselves into, You are greater than those
things as well. And Your grace is so great and so wonderful, so
awesome that you will pour Yourself out, even when it is our
fault. Some things come because we are just obedient. The
struggle is there.
Lord, put the truth in our spirit that Your nature, Lord, is to
defeat Your enemies. To bring them and defeat them and put
them Lord under the feet of the Lord Jesus. And Lord, all your
needing is just a few who will say, "Yes, I'll go." You are not
needing a majority, because You are the majority. So Lord we
surrender to You now. And, Lord, bring to our mind the
obvious, the things that we need to begin to address those today.
Empower us to begin taking the steps we need to, mentally in our
hearts. Clean out what needs to be cleaned out. Commit to the
things that we need to do--to the action steps, Lord, that we need
to do.
Allow the Lord to continue to deal with your heart. Maybe it is in
the area of fear. Our God is a God who is worthy of trust and can be
completely trusted. Just rebuke the fear. Faith is not the absence of
fear. It is facing the fear. It is being courageous enough to go past
the fear.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----
-- COPYRIGHT -- 2003 -- GodSpeak International --
-- Do not republish without written permission from copyright@godspeak.org --
What Does Jesus See?
When Jesus looks upon my life,
What picture does He see.
Does He see His own reflection,
Or does He just see me.
Does He see His likeness,
The product of His hand.
Or just another Christian,
Who never took a stand.
Does He see a child of God,
A child that He set free.
Living life to honor Him,
Or does He just see me.
What about the other folks,
I meet along the way.
Do I show them Jesus,
To brighten up their day.
When someone looks into my eyes,
Can they truly see.
That calm and gentle peace of God,
That dwells inside of me.
When I reach out and shake a hand,
Is He right there in my grip.
Can they feel that strength from God,
That steadies when I slip.
When folks are in my presence,
Do they know His Spirit's there.
Can they see that He's the One,
Who guides me everywhere.
When other people think of me,
What is on their mind.
Do they think of Jesus Christ,
So gentle and so kind.
I try to be like Jesus,
Every single day.
Spreading love and kindness,
All along my way.
I'm afraid that I have failed,
I could not pass the test.
Deep inside my heart I know,
I haven't done my best.
I have had to fight my flesh,
Since the day that I was born.
It's always causing trouble,
And being such a thorn.
That's why His Spirit dwells in me,
He's helping me to learn.
In every situation,
Where I need to turn.
He knew I'd never pass the test,
That's why He took my place.
He gave His life to save my soul,
He suffered my disgrace.
Now I try to be like Him,
I must present Him well.
So other folks will want His gift,
And turn their backs on hell.
Other folks should see the joy,
That Christ has given me.
They should want to have it too,
Especially since it's free.
They should begin to ask me,
What is it they must do.
Just how it is they go about,
Getting Jesus, too.
Then I get to tell them,
This wondrous gift is free.
It only takes a humble heart,
A prayer on bended knee.
Someday when I'm face to face,
With the Lord who set me free.
Will He see His own reflection,
Or will He just see me.
Written By:
BJ Morbitzer
Building The Body Of Christ Through Prayer
Bishop Keith Butler ...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:47b (KJV) God has a nation on this earth and He is building it through prayer. I once did an interview with the BBC, (British Broadcast Company). In this interview, they asked if I was concerned that the Muslim religions are gaining in America, and that they are growing at such a fast rate - faster than Christianity. I just laughed at them. I said, "You've got to be kidding me." They are going all right, but they are not growing faster than we are. There is no way. In fact, if you would take a look at the statistics around the world you will find out that Christianity is growing almost four times faster than the Muslims are. It may not appear that way in some places, but it is true. Forty years ago, Korea was a nation that was 2% Christian. God found one skinny poor man in an army coat. His name was Paul Yonggi Cho. God raised him up and taught the man the Word, and then he taught the man to teach his people to pray for others. Today, Forty years later, South Korea is 90+ percent Christian. Forty years ago, it was one of the poorest nations on the face of the earth. Now when you go to Seoul Korea, prosperity is evident. The economy there is as strong as it is in any other part of the world. The whole nation was changed. God got one man to pray for folks and it changed the whole nation in one generation. It isn't going to take God long to do what He needs to do. He is going to get his people to pray for others, moving away from just their own need. Now, if South Korea can be changed in one generation and it was 2% Christian, what do you think will happen to the rest of the United States? What do you think will happen in your nation? All God has to do is get us to pray. Pray for all the saints, the whole Church. Let's pray for the church in China, in Korea, in Africa, in Europe, and all over the world. Pray that they get more revelation of the Word, so that more and more people can be born again. And the Lord shall continually add to the whole church daily, such as should be saved. Scripture References: Matthew 21:22; Acts 2:41-47; 12:5
Capability Without Character Doesn't Work Ever been abused by your boss? Do you feel that your boss is insensitive and uncaring? Is his or her agenda self-glorification with no real loyalty to the company? If you have a boss like this, you probably are working for what researchers call a psychopath. According to Dictionary.com, the definition of a psychopath is “a person with an antisocial personality disorder, manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behavior without empathy or remorse.” A recent article explored the current research on psychopaths in the workplace.* Professor Robert Hare is a leader in this field of study. He has developed a psychopathic checklist that can be used to qualitatively measure the degree to which someone is psychopathic. Following are some of the key symptoms. - Glibness and superficial charm
- Grandiose sense of self-worth
- Pathological lying
- Conning and manipulation
- Lack of remorse or guilt
- Shallow effect (i.e., a coldness covered up by dramatic emotional displays that are actually playacting)
- Callousness and lack of empathy
- Failure to accept responsibility for one's own actions
Interestingly, research indicated that psychopathic managers and incarcerated criminals tend to display the same psychopathic characteristics. Researchers noted that the difference between the two groups appeared in the level of impulsiveness and physical aggression, which is displayed more often by incarcerated criminals. Researchers described managers with psychopathic tendencies as “successful psychopaths” and criminals as “unsuccessful psychopaths.” This distinction was not intended as an endorsement, but simply as a way of acknowledging that the managers were smart enough not to get thrown into jail. Whether managers or criminals, psychopaths are self-centered people who view other people and organizations simply as tools to accomplish their personal agenda, which is self-glorification. In reference to corporate psychopaths, the researchers noted the following additional characteristics: - Psychopaths have to win, and enjoy hurting others in the process.
- Psychopaths have no allegiance to organizations or other people, only to themselves.
- Psychopaths play a short-term parasitic game. They join an organization not to improve it, but to use the organization to accomplish their personal agendas.
- Psychopaths tend to be corporate managers rather than entrepreneurs. Even though entrepreneurs may be narcissistic, they want their companies to win. Psychopaths view organizations as tools to help them win personally.
Know anyone with these characteristics? You are the exception if you don't, because according to researchers, psychopaths are ubiquitous in Corporate America. How do psychopaths get hired and promoted? Clearly not based on character; they are hired based on perceived capability. If the article is correct, Corporate America, indeed organizations of all types, are filled with psychopaths, which implies that—as a maxim—hiring and performance accountability processes are woefully inadequate. How can organizations protect themselves from psychopaths? The researchers suggested two key practices. - Diligently screen new hires.
- Maintain a culture that promotes transparency and trust.
If you don't hire psychopaths, you don't have to deal with them. And if your organization's culture promotes trust and communication, then the organization will tend to self-cleanse as the psychopaths in the organization are identified and held accountable. Corporate America is particularly susceptible to psychopaths because of the propensity toward individualism in America. A culture of rugged individualism may sound like a virtue, but in reality it encourages self-focus and works against building healthy teams and communities. Because of this bias toward individualism, America is a breeding ground for psychopaths. Why is this? Researchers believe that only 50 percent of the mind-set of psychopaths is genetic, which means that psychopaths are shaped by culture as much as by family heritage. By contrast, psychopaths are less prevalent in Asia because of the culture of community that exists. Asians are taught from childhood the value of subordinating personal agendas to the good of the whole. In this regard, Asians practice a more biblical worldview of community and teamwork than Americans. Psychopaths have capability or they would not be hired, but they lack the requisite character to produce long-term positive results. It requires capability and character to build great organizations that produce excellent results. By character the researchers are referring to biblical virtues such as honesty, humility, service, and selflessness. Consequently whether they realize it or not, the scholars are confirming the reality that biblical values undergird excellent management practices and facilitate long-term success. Biblical values are rooted in a biblical worldview. In the end, lasting economic blessings are the direct by-products of embracing and walking in a biblical worldview as individuals and as organizations.
|
|
None
Posted On 05/05/2007 20:21:50
|
 I AM PROUD TO BE A "KEPT" WOMAN!!
You see, there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind, but GOD kept me sane. (Isa. 26:3)
There were times when I thought I could go no longer, but the LORD kept me moving. (Gen 28:15)
At times, I've wanted to lash out at those whom I felt had done me
wrong, but the LORD kept my mouth shut. (Psa. 13)
Sometimes, I think the money just isn't enough, but GOD has helped me to keep the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid, etc.., (Matt. 6:25-34)
When I thought I would fall, HE kept me up. When I thought I was weak, HE kept me strong! (I Pet. 5:7, Matt. 11:28-30)
I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure you hear me!
Praise the Lord and pass the filet mignon! I'm blessed to be "KEPT."
Page:
1 |
|
|
