Faith

Jewish Hate Comes to Online Retailer

For those of us who are Jewish, it’s certainly a new spin on the most ancient enmity.

A shirt being sold in the “hot trending” section of a popular online retailer bears the slogan: “At least I’m not Jewish.”

Fortunately, Zazzle.com removed the shirt which was being marketed by a third-party vendor who used the moniker, “The Slesk Bazaar,” who has since been banned by Zazzle.

That same vendor also created a shirt that read, “At least I’m not Christian.”

After Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden we read in Genesis 3:14-15 that God put enmity between Satan and his ilk, and Eve and her offspring.  Ever since, Satan has been going after God’s Chosen people (initially in an attempt to prevent the Messiah from being born), and authentic followers of Yeshua (Jesus).

Read more at https://www.wnd.com/2019/01/hot-trending-shirt-at-least-im-not-jewish/#UODjPTIiKAoXjCPu.99

Another Chance, Episode 4, “Stiff-Arming God”

Episode Four of the Another Chance Podcast is about former professional skateboarder, Joe Gruber. In the Nineties, Joe skated on a team assembled by one of the “godfathers” of skateboarding, Lance Mountain. During our interview for this podcast, Lance told me, “Skateboarders are disgustingly honest.”  Lance was referring to the in-your-face attitude of the skateboarding party life that Joe found himself in as he stiff-armed God. However, eventually, in large measure thanks to an evening that involved drugs and demons, Joe took up Jesus’ offer of another chance–at life.

Joe skated in “The Firm,” a legendary skateboard team that was founded by Lance mountain in the 1990’s and lasted for the better part of 15 years.  Joe and his brother Kieth were skating in a Southern California playground when the happened to meet Lance.   It was a divine moment which would change Joe and Kieth’s life forever.

As you’ll hear, while touring the world as a pro skateboarder, Joe ventured into the dark side of the skate culture, but fortunately responded when God stepped in to place him on a different course.

Joe retired from pro skating, dedicating his life to serving people–and especially young people–with the love of Jesus, eventually going to work for the Billy Graham Association in youth outreach.

Joe now lives in Santa Cruz, California with his wife Katrina. He is a pastor at Santa Cruz Hope Church in Santa Cruz, California.

Joe can occasionally be seen charging down a steep street on a skateboard (and every once in a while, can still be seen with a fresh case of “road rash”).

Thanks to MS Skate Ministry for their contribution to this podcast.

 

Smartphones and the Antichrist, Satan’s Electronic Heyday?

The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church has said that humans’ dependence on modern technology will result in the coming of the Antichrist (I’ll explain more about the Antichrist figure in a moment–it will be a real person).

In an interview with Russian state media, Patriarch Kirill explained he does not entirely oppose electronic gadgets, but warned against “falling into slavery” to smartphones.

Patriarch Kirill said that the collection of user data including “location, interests and fears” will make it possible for humans to be controlled by external forces. “Control from a single point is a harbinger of the coming of the Antichrist,” Kirill told the state-run Rossia-1 TV network. “The Antichrist is a personality that will be at the head of the world wide web controlling the entire human race. Thus, the structure itself presents a danger,” he said.

First and foremost, anyone reading this will agree, younger people–particularly those of the Millennial generation–are often extremely attached to the cellphones to the point where hanging out with friends involves less inter-personal verbal communication, and more staring, mouth agape, at an electronic device.

According to a research paper in the December issue of the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, lessening Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat use can lower loneliness and depression.

University of Pennsylvania psychologist Melissa G. Hunt led the study, which surveyed 143 Penn students. Hunt said social media platforms give “the illusion of connectedness and not true connectedness,” adding, “It is a little ironic that reducing your use of social media actually makes you feel less lonely.”

I would add, constant time on a device gazing at photos of self and others as a dominant form of communication, information, and education will help make users stupid and unable to hear the voice of God.

The Bible says, in Psalm 19:1-4,

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world

In other words, the Creator of the universe is SCREAMING for our attention via the earth, sky, and heavens.

As for the Antichrist, we read in First John 2:18 – “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.”  The specific term antichrist is used seven times in Scripture, twice here in 1 John 2:18 and also in 1 John 2:22; 4:3; and twice 2 John 7.

The meaning of the term antichrist is simply “against Christ.” As the apostle John records in First and Second John, an antichrist will deny the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22), does not acknowledge Jesus (1 John 4:3), and denies that Jesus came in the flesh (2 John 1:7). There have been many “antichrists,” in the past, as 1 John 2:18 states.

But also to come is the Antichrist.

Most Bible prophecy/eschatology experts believe the Antichrist will be the ultimate embodiment of what it means to be against Messiah. In the end times/last hour, a man will arise to oppose Messiah and His followers more than anyone else in history.  Likely claiming to be the true Messiah, the Antichrist will directly used by Satan to seek world domination and will attempt to destroy all followers of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) and the nation of Israel.

Though we are saved by the atoning blood of Messiah, and are born again through faith in Him, we are still living in the world where Satan rules.

“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one,” 1 John 5:19)

Therefore, Satan is called, the Ruler of the air.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient,” Ephesians 2:1-2).

Satan is always moving about the air and working in the hearts of men to commit sinful things. The majority of this world population is following Satan or Satan is at work in their life. The air itself is polluted with sins created by the works of Satan. Satan will continue to work until Messiah  comes back again to defeat him (see Revelation 19:11-21).

As for those electronic devices which are capable of pulling photos and videos out of thin air–while it is amazing technology I believe the “Ruler of the air” is using this smart technology as a way to dumb-down the masses as he prepares to hoodwink the entire world. 

This TV Pilot Episode is a Must See!

Seriously.  If you watch the first 4-minutes of the trailer I’ve post below, you will stop everything to watch the remaining 15-minutes.

This is the pilot for the first-ever multi-season TV series about Jesus’ life, entitled, “The Chosen.”  It is also the most crowdfunded film project ever, surpassing $5 million in investor pledges.

“We’re proud to let you know ‘The Chosen’ is now the No. 1 crowd-funded media project of all time,” said an announcement emailed to supporters last week.

“If you look at the public information available of the top crowd-funded film/TV projects of all time, ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’s reboot has been No. 1 at $5.7 million. And even though all the projects on the list had huge fan bases before they started, we (again, not all of us) somehow believed we could raise much more,” the announcement added.

The first episode, “The Shepherd: A Story of the First Christmas,” was released during the holidays in 2017.  The pilot, which can be watched on the video streaming service VidAngel and other platforms, has been used to help raise over $6 million of the $13 million goal.

Check it out. It’s incredibly well done!

Is Jesus really the Messiah? Hidden Headlines looks at the ancient Jewish Prophecies

On the December 20, 2018 edition of Hidden Headlines, (click here for a direct link) I interview Rabbi Charlie Cohen, the Congregation Leader of Congregation Tsemach Adonai, a fellowship of Jewish people who follow Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ).

In this engaging exchange, Rabbi Cohen presents us with several of the key Messianic prophecies found in the Jewish Tenakh (Old Testament) and how they were literally fulfilled in the life of Yeshua.

Messianic prophecies discussed include:

Messiah must be a descendant of King David – 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Isaiah 9:6, 11:1-5, Jeremiah 23:5
Fulfilled – Matthew 1:1-6, Acts 13:22-23, Romans 1:3

Will be born of a virgin – Isaiah 7:14
Fulfilled – Matthew 1:18-2:1, Luke 1:26-35

Will be born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:1-2
Fulfilled – Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4-7

Will be adored by great persons – Psalm 72:10-11
Fulfilled – Matthew 2:1-11

Will be a prophet like Moses – Deuteronomy 18:15-18
Fulfilled – Acts 3:20-22

Will have a ministry of binding up the broken hearted, proclaiming liberty to the captives, and announcing the acceptable year of the Lord – Isaiah 61:1-2
Fulfilled – Luke 45:18-19

Will be rejected by his own people – Isaiah 53:2-3, 63:3-5, Psalm 69:9
Fulfilled – John 1;11, 7:3-5

Will be raised from the dead: Isaiah 53:9-10, Psalm 2:7-8, 16:10
Fulfilled – Matthew 28:1=20, Actis 2:23-36, 13:33-37, I Corinthians 15:4-6

Will be accepted by the Gentiles – Isaiah 11:10, 42:1-4, 49:1-6
Fulfilled – Matthew 12:18-21, Romans 9:30, 10:20, 11:11, 15:10

I urge you to share this post and the podcast with skeptics, Jewish friends and relatives, or with a believer who wants to deepen their faith.

Shalom!

Photo Credit: GotQuestions.org