December, 2005  

Shalom Y’all,  

It is so hard to believe that we are in the midst of the holiday season already. This year passed by so quickly.  I pray that you all had a blessed Thanksgiving Day.  We certainly did.  We were blessed to have Kenny home on furlough for the entire holiday weekend, which made it so very special.  PTL!  

I would really like to thank all of you for the precious emails, cards, and letters that I received.  Thank you for taking the time to share your heart with me, and for all of your encouraging words.  I am so grateful!  It is comforting to know that there are so many of you praying for me. Please know that I covet your prayers, and thank God for each and every one of you.

Shortly before Thanksgiving, I received an email from a friend of mine in Israel. It so touched my heart that I want to share it with you.  He was speaking of a group of students who were asked to make a list of what they thought were the present Seven Wonders of the World. Although there was some disagreement, the following received the most votes: 1.Egypt’s Great Pyramids, 2.Taj Mahal, 3.The Grand Canyon,  4.Panama Canal, 5.The Empire State Building, 6.St Peter’s Basilica, and 7.The Great Wall of China.  

As the teacher was tallying the votes, she noticed that one student was very quiet, and she had not yet turned in her paper. She asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there are so many.”  The teacher said, “Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.”  The girl hesitated, then read: “I think the Seven Wonders of the World are: 1.To See, 2.To Taste, 3.To Touch, 4.To Hear, 5.To Feel, 6.To Laugh, and 7.To Love.”  My friend said that the room was so full of silence that you could have heard a pin drop. Think about it, though! Those things we overlook as simple and ordinary are truly wondrous. This girl’s list is a gentle reminder that the most precious things in life cannot be bought. They are gifts from God. (James 1:17).  

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As many of you probably already know, there is a lawsuit pending which is an attempt to stop any member of our Air Force from sharing his or her religious views with fellow members while on duty. Two brothers in the Lord have been trying to intervene against that lawsuit. They are: F-16 Pilot, Captain Karl Palmberg, and Air Force Chaplain, Major James Glass.   

As they filed their motion, Captain Palmberg said, “After five years of service, and over 500 F-16 flying hours, both overseas and at home, I consider my constitutional right to discuss my faith, without censorship or fear of retribution, as valuable to the military, and the future of our nation, as the aircraft, bombs, and bullets I am trained to employ.”  

Major Glass said, “If there were a place where it is imperative that people be allowed to share their personal faith, it is in the military where the bravest of men and women are putting their lives on the line for this country.”  As we know, throughout our nation’s history, chaplains have played a critical role in our US Military, and they have always been able to pray, and share their faith, according to their faith’s traditions.   

I thank God for these two men who have risen to the occasion, and allowed their voices to be heard. I thank God for Senator James Inhofe who has authored an Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006,  S.1042, which will ensure that prayer is allowed at any activity at the military academies.  Last week it passed the US Senate by a margin of 99 to 0.  

One Congressman and one Congresswoman, Walter Jones and Madeleine Bordallo, have introduced the same language in their bill, H.R. 3430.  The Jones/Bordallo/Inhofe language says, “To ensure by law the ability of the military service academies to include the offering of a voluntary, nondenominational prayer as an element of their activities.”   

Let us pray, and call or write President Bush, and urge him to issue an Executive Order protecting the constitutional right of military chaplains, and other members of the military, to pray according to their faith. Call the White House at: (202) 456-1414 or email him at:  president@whitehouse.gov  .       

A letter was sent to President Bush by Walter Jones on Wednesday with over 70 signatures of the US House of Representatives explaining that Christian Military Chaplains are being told they must use general terms when they pray publicly, and they cannot mention the Name of Jesus. These 69 members of Congress ended their letter by saying, “We are requesting that you, as Commander-in-Chief, protect by Executive Order the constitutional right of military chaplains to pray according to their faith.”  

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Once again, Atheist, Michael Newdow, who sued to remove “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance, is taking advantage of America’s freedoms, and our legal system, by filing yet another destructive and expensive lawsuit. This time he said that he will sue to have “In God We Trust” removed from our currency. The only way to stop these constant harassment lawsuits is for Congress to remove religious -_expression lawsuits from judicial review, just as Representative Todd Akin is attempting to do with the proposed Pledge Protection Act. It is not the place of a few unelected radical judges to legislate religious intolerance from the bench. Let us all pray in to this lawsuit, and call our Congressmen as well.   
 

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 If Senator Arlen Specter had his way, all health care professionals, hospitals, and health care plans would be penalized by local and state governments if they refuse to perform abortions for reasons of conscience. However, the House disagrees and they passed the Hyde-Weldon Conscience Protection provision. When this measure went to the Senate, Senator Specter, who seems to hate any and all restrictions on abortion, took away all of the conscience protections in the Senate version. After a tough battle in the joint committee, the House version has won, so that health care entities cannot be coerced into helping perform, pay for, or refer for abortions. Let us thank God for this victory, and those who led the battle.  

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Paul Harvey recently said:  “I don’t believe in Santa, but I’m not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don’t agree with Darwin, but I didn’t go out and hire an attorney when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution. … Life, liberty, or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30 second prayer before a football game. So what’s the big deal? … It’s not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They are just talking to a God they believe in, asking Him to grant safety to the players on the field, and the fans going home from the game.”

 “But it’s a Christian prayer,” some will argue.  

“Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian Churches outnumber all others better than 200 to 1.  So what would you expect, somebody chanting Hare Krishna?”  

“If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer. If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.  If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear a prayer to Buddha. And I wouldn’t be offended, it wouldn’t bother me one bit. When in Rome …”  

“But what about the atheists?” is another argument.  

“What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We are not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that’s asking too much, bring a Walkman, or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!”  

“Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don’t think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world’s foundations.”  

“Christians are sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all of our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, and to pray before we go to sleep. … Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people, and their lawyers, are telling us to cease praying.”  

“God help us! And if that sentence offends you, well … just sue me!”  

“The silent majority has been silent too long. It’s time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard, know that the vast majority don’t care what they want. It is time the majority rules! It is time we tell them, “You don’t have to pray; you don’t have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don’t have to believe in God, or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right. But by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away.  We are fighting back … And we will win!” 

“God bless us one and all … especially those who denounce Him. God Bless America, despite all her faults, she is still the greatest nation of all. God bless our servicemen and women, who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God. May 2006 be the year the silent majority is heard, and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions.  Let us pray so anyway!”  Amen and Amen!!!

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 A Theme Park for the Holy Land  

 

About a month ago, I began hearing that negotiations are underway between the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, and the American Evangelical Community, to build a $60 million dollar Theme Park along the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee.  The park will be built on approximately 125 acres that the Israeli Government is offering free of cost.  It will be a Theme Park and Visitors Center where Evangelicals can gather, and spend more time in the places where Jesus walked.  

Israeli officials are in advanced discussions with several prominent churches that will serve as investors and builders of the $60 million center. They hope to sign the first of the agreements this month. One of the key figures at the heart of this project is Pat Robertson, prominent televangelist and founder of the 700 Club. He said, “It thrills me to think that there will be a place in the Galilee where Evangelical Christians from all over the world can come to celebrate the actual place where Jesus Christ lived and taught. It is our pleasure to fully co-operate with the Israeli Government.”  Another organization that is endorsing this project is the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.  

Highlights of the Center will include a Holy Bible Garden, full of plants and trees mentioned in the New Testament, and equipped with quiet sites for reflection and prayer. A Sea of Galilee Amphitheater will overlook the mouth of the Jordan River, and hold 1,500 to 2,000 people. The park will also have a Christian Experience Auditorium, and a Multimedia Center. The center will feature an online broadcast center, which would give religious leaders an opportunity to address their followers back home, live, near the tranquil blue waters of the Sea of Galilee. In short, it will turn a large swath of waterside territory, from Magdala to Bethsaida, into a Galilee World Heritage Park.  Also, all of the Christian partners in this project must agree that there will be no sharing Yeshua, or the Gospel, with any of the local Israelis.  

I must tell you that each time I heard more about this project, my spirit would grieve even more. I actually began to feel ill. Then, once I was given all of the details, and I began to receive one email after the other from Israeli friends, a righteous anger began to rise up in me. I knew that this was not at all pleasing to the Lord. A couple of days later, as I was awakening early in the morning, I heard the Lord say to me, “It is all about money! It is all about prestige! It is all about building their own kingdoms, not the Kingdom of God!”    

As I spent time with the Lord that same afternoon, He began to share that this was happening at the same time the Vatican is trying to gain possession of the site in Mt. Zion where it is believed that the Last Supper was held, and where David’s Tomb is believed to be located. Many Jews gather to pray at David’s Tomb. This was all being done quietly, so that the residents of Israel would not know.    

At the same time, many of the American Protestant Denominations, and the National Council of Churches, are divesting from any businesses that support Israel. They are applying pressure on the American Government to take land away from Israel, and give it to the Palestinians. A number of groups from the Presbyterian Church USA have actually been meeting with members of Hizbullah, the terrorist group.  Most of the main line denominations stand with the PLO in defiance of the Holy Word of God. Naturally, this is upsetting to many Israelis, and they are once again beginning to question the sincerity of all Christians.  

Also, the Israelis hear President Bush and Condi Rice profess to be Christians, yet they are not being at all honest concerning Islam, and the god of Islam. They are also pressuring Israel to give away their God given land, and accept the ungodly, unbiblical “Road Map” and a Palestinian State on their shrunken borders, over which they have forced them to surrender all control.  Now they are pressuring Israel to expel all of the Jews of Judea and Samaria from their homes to make them forgotten refugees as well.  They have also been trying to forge a deal concerning the Golan Heights.  Everything that is coming from both our President, and our Secretary of State, contradicts the revealed will of Almighty God, where Israel and the Jews are concerned. Therefore, the Israelis have lost trust in them, just as many Americans have done.

Now, at a time when there are thousands of Israelis from Gush Katif, still living out of suit cases, many of them in tents, the American Evangelicals are going to spend $60 million on a Theme Park, for their own comfort and pleasure.  Thousands of these once self-sufficient farmers and educators are still without livelihood and direction. Emotional stress and psychological trauma is plaguing many of them that have been dispersed throughout the country. What kind of a message are the Evangelicals sending to the Israelis?  

None of the Jews that were expelled are living in long term housing yet. They are still either holed up in hotel rooms, school dormitories, tent camps or caravans. Their young people, who were in college, are no longer in college, for their parents cannot help them, because they have no money. There are no schools for their younger children to attend. They are still paying the mortgages off on the homes that the government bulldozed. The banks would all go under if thousands of mortgage debts were forgiven. Not only that, but the people could never again apply for another loan to buy or build another home in Israel.   

There are 2500 of the best of the best in agriculture, who are now unemployed. Their organic vegetable and flower businesses brought billions in to the Israeli economy. They had it all taken from them, and cannot even collect unemployment, until they hire an attorney.  Many of them have been left penniless, and living in very poor conditions, through no fault of their own.

Tovi Singer went to visit some of them, who are holed up in terrible places, and she said that the carpets were filthy, the light bulbs were bare, and curtains were falling down from the windows. Those living in tents are without money to be able to fuel their generators. When it rains hard, they push the water out of the tents with large squeegees. Many of them are without winter clothing or comforters to cover with. The few possessions they had in the tents were soaked during the first rain of the season. What few possessions they had packed in containers, and placed on military bases, have also been ruined.  

I could go on and on, but I’ve shared enough to let you know how those, who have answered the call of God, and gone to Israel, in order to build, plant, and wait to meet with the God of Israel on the mountain tops, those who were zealous and productive, are now being terribly mistreated by their very own government. Also by our government, for our media is so controlled that you haven’t heard any of this. Several Americans have just returned and were so choked up they couldn’t even talk about what they saw.  

On television we saw them all thrown out of their homes, their homes destroyed, and we were told they received thousands of dollars in compensation, which has turned out to be one big bold faced lie. Only a few received any money at all. And those who are still living in hotel rooms, dorms etc. are having their rent money deducted from the compensation that they may,  or may not, someday receive.  

At the time of the expulsion, the government had only 300 caravans prepared for the first three hundred who left Gush Katif. They had 350 ordered in addition. That was all the preparation that had been made for these 9,000 some people, before they were expelled from their homes. At the last minute the Israeli Government went out and rented 1000 hotel rooms, for as many as that could accommodate, one family per room. Keep in mind that these are almost all families with many children. We were told that the government would pay for their room and board for ten days, when in truth, that was not the case either.   

It is really frightening to see how quickly these once zealous and productive residents of Gush Katif and Northern Shomron have deteriorated in to depressed refugees.  Stop and think about how much could be done for these people with the $60 million dollars that the American Evangelicals are going to sink in to a Theme Park for their own pleasure. I am here to tell you that the dear Lord loves the Israelis who have just lost everything, and He will surely avenge them. He will also hold the American Evangelicals accountable for spending $60 million dollars on a Theme Park instead of meeting the needs of His people.  

The Lord has been telling us for quite some time that as all of the natural disasters and terrorist attacks continue to come upon us here in America, each one more destructive than the one before, FEMA will not be able to fund anything. FEMA will be broke! Insurance companies will collapse! At that time the Lord plans to move Operation Blessing to the forefront, to do for the innocent, who are left down and out, what the government can no longer do for them. That is just one more reason why the Spirit of God is grieved over the $60 million that is about to be sunk in to a Theme Park where both man, and the god of entertainment, will be exalted.  The Lord said, “They know not the hour!” 

 

“It is all about money! It is all about Prestige! It is all about Their Own Kingdoms!”  

For quite some time the Lord has been showing me what so many Evangelical leaders are doing with their money.  As I’ve watched it, I can understand why the Lord repeatedly says that we must pray about where we send our money! We must be good stewards of what we are given, for we will be held accountable.    

TBN has been cited over and over again for luxurious living, greed, and their refusal to be accountable. Paul Crouch just recently spent $14 million to purchase a home that was owned by Conway Twitty in order  to build a museum to TBN.  Again, he is building his own kingdom, not the Kingdom of God.   

It has just been revealed that Bishop Eddie Long has been heavily compensated from nonprofit ministries that he has founded. For instance, a $1.4 million, six bedroom, nine bath room, house on 20 acres, use of a $350,000 luxury Bentley automobile, and more than $1 million in salary.   His ministries were founded to meet the needs of the poor and needy, and spread the Gospel.  However, tax records show that he was the one who benefited most from the ministries, and the Christians in that congregation are o.k. with that.   

Another is Joyce Meyer, who owns a $2 million dollar home, receives $650,000.00 in salary plus $3 million in royalties, and her husband $450,000.00 in salary. Both of them drive luxury automobiles.    

Last but not least is Benny Hinn, who lives in a $10 million seaside mansion with 8 bathrooms. His salary is $1 million plus royalties. Operating cost for his private jet is $1.5 million per year. He and Suzanne drive luxury automobiles, and he spends up to $3,000.00 per night for hotel rooms in exotic locations as he travels.  His petty cash expenses are unbelievable! No wonder the Lord is bringing fire to the Church?

Jesus said, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay My head.”  (Matt. 8:20) NLB.   Quite a contrast, wouldn’t you say?

   

Tel Aviv to Become the Pink City!

 

Throughout the world Tel Aviv is known as the White City, because of the Bauhaus-style structures that adorn her streets. However, it will soon be called the Pink City, because the local tourism officials have decided that Tel Aviv and gay people are a perfect fit. They plan to turn Tel Aviv in to the gay capitol of the world.  

Apparently this all came about when IHA Director-General, Eli Ziv visited London to participate in the 2005 World Travel Market exhibition. At that time, he met with representatives of the homo-lesbian travel industry, and discovered people who would travel just about anywhere for a good party. They would even travel to the Middle East!   

He went on to explain that the gay community has amazing consumer power, and he feels that Tel Aviv has a lot to offer them, for instance the beach, sun, culture, and nightclubs. He went on to say that plans are being drafted, and travel packages prepared, to fly gays in from Germany, England, and Holland.  

Jerusalem is scheduled to host the 2006 World Pride Parade. We have been praying for divine intervention to stop that from happening in Jerusalem, and I just found out that Mr Ziv is working to have it moved to Tel Aviv instead.  No matter where in Israel it takes place, there will be serious consequences. Again, as the Lord said, “It is all about money, prestige, and building their own kingdoms.” How all of this must grieve the heart of God.  I can’t even begin to imagine. The very thought sickens me.  

 

The International Prayer Conference Jerusalem

 The Lord has just recently called me to make arrangements to be at the IPC in Jerusalem in January.  Each time He sets the dates for these Prayer Conferences, Israel is either in the midst of a terrible crisis, or our intercession is used to thwart a terrible crisis that is on the horizon. It is always one or the other.  

I praise God for the Lord has spoken to five intercessors who contacted me, and they will be going over with me. May Briscoe, Joann Hahn, Deborah Cain, Marion Shin and Shirley Schindler have all been called to go, and they are all very powerful in intercession. It will be a blessing to travel with them.  

As you know there is nothing but chaos in Israel at this time, not just in the Knesset, but also on the streets. There are many problems along the northern border at this time, in fact the folks up there have been in bomb shelters.  Condi Rice, at the direction of President Bush, held an all night marathon until she was successful in forcing the Israeli government to agree to open the crossing and surrender the border to Gaza.  As of November 25^th the “Palestinians” can move freely in and out of Israel, (busloads) and the Israelis cannot check them or stop them, even if they are known to be terrorists.  Lord, have mercy!   

Please join us in prayer for this Prayer Conference, that God’s purposes be accomplished, and that God make us a blessing to the dear ones who have lost everything, and those now being threatened. Shalom!