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Shalom Friends in Yeshua's Love, Happy new year. Or is it? In light of all that is happening around us spiritually, economically and politically, the outlook may be bleak, but the uplook is always glorious! For example, a recent poll by a major American news organization reported that 79 percent of Americans fear that the U.S. government's unrestrained spending habits, including the recent passage of the national health care legislation, could collapse the U.S. economy. We're living in times where men's hearts may well fail them for fear, just as Yeshua prophesied would happen prior to his return (Luke 21:26). America and the nations of this world are under divine judgment, and we're all going to be refined spiritually as we go through the flood and fire of tribulation (Isa 43:2). But YHVH promises to lead his people through it all. To overcome victoriously, we're going to have to learn to walk at a higher level of faith in him in all areas of our life. The golden calf of prosperity and materialism is coming down in America and in other countries. This idol has led America (and other Christian nations) away from her biblical roots. I suspect we all have golden calves in our own lives that YHVH will need to topple for us to become the chaste bride he wants us to be for his Son. He may even require us to drink the bitter waters of judgment because of foolish financial decisions we have made to satiate the lusts of flesh and eyes and the pride of life. We have spent money we didn't have without consulting Elohim; without putting him first. Judgment is not coming to America (and other "Christian" nations); it is here! Since the end of WWII, America has had an unparalleled run of prosperity with only a few minor speed bumps in her economic road. Several generations have been born and have experienced little if any financial lack in any area of their lives. As a result, the nation has taken its eyes off of its Heavenly Provider. The results have been disastrous. Church attendance has plummeted, Bible reading and prayer continue to reach new all-time lows. In many areas, the media, the government, the courts and the educational systems have turned against Christianity and biblical values. Now it's all-out war on biblical truth and all those who support it. Hand-in-hand with this goes anti-Semitism, which is on the rise in many places. And to make matters worse, false and demonic religions like Islam are on the rise, feeding like a spiritual cancer on a weak body politic. To the degree that Christians everywhere have abandoned their spiritual orientation, Islam is making insidious inroads and filling the spiritual vacuum that has been left. To my way of thinking, the recent presidential elections in America tell the whole story. The presidential office is like a mirror, reflecting the moral and spiritual condition of the country. In some ways, judgment began to come on America with the election of Bill Clinton. The presidential office hit a new low morally. He was personable yet an inveterate liar and adulterer, and it was broadcast into American's homes in living color. That was only the beginning. Though the economy prospered, big government continued to expand, the national debt grew and Americans continued to lose civil liberties to Big Brother's encroachment. Many thought it couldn't get any worse, but then Al Gore ran for president and almost beat George W. Bush. Gore is known for his agenda to bring America under the authority of the New World Order and to impoverish Americans by redistributing their wealth to third-world nations in the name of radical environmentalism and mother earth worship. But Christians cried out, and YHVH heard, and Bush barely beat Gore in the 2000 elections. Some saw this as a stay of YHVH's judgment against America for her sins of turning away from him. Within months of Bush becoming president, YHVH tested America on 9/11. She was hit economically (the World Trade Center), militarily (the Pentagon) and almost politically (the White House). America has become great in these three areas, and prides herself for her invincibility. This was America's wake up call. She woke up briefly, but quickly went back to sleep. Let the good times roll! Instead of bumper stickers touting "God bless America" it should have been, "America! Bless God!" Instead of bumper stickers with the word "pride" on them, they should have read, "Repent of your sins, humble yourself before God!" The Bush years wore on. America got mired down in a Mideast war, which has weakened her financially. Big government continued to grow as did the national debts. Americans continued to lose their civil liberties at the hand of big government. Biblical values continued to be assaulted everywhere. Through it all, America has stiffened her neck and refused to repent of sin and to turn back to the God of her fathers. In 2008, it was presidential election time again. The choice was between Mr. Obama, the most liberal Democrat in the U.S. Senate, and Mr. McCain, the most liberal Republican in the U.S. Senate. Those voters with conservative and Bible-based belief systems were left out in the cold. It was a vote for the lesser of two evils. We were forced to choose which was the less severe of two judgments on America! Because America refused to repent of her sins of greed, abortion, sexual immorality, pride, humanism, and forsaking the God of her fathers, she now has a president who has publicly confessed on camera numerous times that he is a Moslem, who has openly Marxist leanings, who believes in wealth redistribution (a major Marxist tenet), believes that big government has the right and duty to take over (or nationalize) any area of the private sector it wishes (another major tenet of Marxism), and who is strongly pro-abortion and pro-sexual perversion. His status as a native-born American is in question, potentially making him an illegal president. So happy new year! Yeah right! You might be saying in response. You may not know whether to rejoice or to lament. As hard as it is for me to do so, I have to believe we should do the former. Why? Brethren, end-time Bible prophecy is being fulfilled right in front of us. How? Read my article "Is America in End-Time Bible Prophecy" (located on our website) that I wrote several years ago. What's happening in America and in other Christian nations is outlined in the prophecies of the Tanakh (Old Testament) pertaining to Ephraim (or the northern kingdom of Israel). Many of these prophecies have not been fulfilled yet, and clearly their setting is in the end times. They are precursor events to the second coming of Yeshua. Ephraim must be brought to its knees before it will repent and return to Elohim, before spiritual revival can occur, before she can be regathered to her spiritual inheritance in the land of Israel, and before Yeshua can return. As a result of the judgments coming upon our nation, many will repent and return in spiritual revival to YHVH. So rejoice! What is happening around us will purify us spiritually as well, which will draw us closer to YHVH and his Word. We need this, so rejoice, for it's for our betterment! Hard times will trim away the spiritual fat and purge out the slothfulness we all have. It will help us to rearrange the priorities of our lives, so that we will truly seek first the kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness over the cares of this world and the flesh. So rejoice! You and I will be forced to begin to walk more by faith, and will need to learn to hear YHVH's voice. So rejoice! Some of us may lose some of the material possessions and conveniences that have hindered us from drawing closer to Elohim. Rejoice! In our local areas, some of us may have to begin to rely more on our spiritual community to help us get through the hard times. Rejoice! This will bring the body of Yeshua closer together. We will have to repent of sin, which will bring us closer to Elohim. Rejoice! And rejoice, as end-time Bible prophecy is being fulfilled, for know that the second coming of King Yeshua draws closer! In short, the flesh man will be diminished, the spirit man will grow. Rejoice! If we are to have victory and be the righteous and spotless bride who is ready for Yeshua at his second coming, then we, as John the Immerser said of himself, "must decrease that Yeshua may increase." Let it be so! Maranatha! May Yeshua come! Ministry Update More and more people all over the world are signing up for our monthly newsletter. This is a blessing and encouragement to us, for it tells us that YHVH is using us to touch lives globally for his glory. It also confirms the fact that the Hebrew Roots or Messianic Israel Movement truly is international in scope, and that the Spirit of Elohim is calling out people from all the nations. In fact, our web site statistics tell us that each month multiple thousands of people come across our web site from many dozens of countries. As the Roman road system and the Greek language were the means by which the first century apostles spread the gospel far and wide, likewise the internet is the Roman road of our day, and English is the language of the world. Currently we are helping to encourage and support through direct contact with individuals, fellowships and congregations in Guatemala, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Puerto Rico and all over the U.S and Canada to name a few places. We are humbled by these opportunities to serve our Master in this way. My only regret is that I can't give each of these people with whom we communicate, but have yet the privilege to meet personally, a huge bear hug and tell them personally how much we love them! Just the other Sabbath, a brother came from Colorado (that's about 1400 miles away!) to meet us and to thank us. His son is in prison in Colorado and leads a Messianic prison ministry of 250 men. The son teaches them each week from our Torah study guides. To touch lives in this way with the Torah and the gospel brings us unspeakable joy. To YHVH be the glory! Remember the Garden of Peace seminar that this ministry sponsored in January where about 30 men came from several states and Canada? The reports are coming in—I have heard the testimonies with my own ears. Marriages are being transformed. Dead marriages are coming to life once again as men repent of their selfish, prideful and unbiblical ways. Their wives are responding with love, passion and renewed respect for their husbands. What can I say? This is some of the best news a pastor and Bible teacher could ever hear! We need spiritual revival in our homes and families. Men, go ahead and take the challenge and order the Garden of Peace book by Shalom Arush (you can order it over the internet) yourself and begin to read it. It will revolutionize your perspective about your marriage and wife. I'll tease you with this: For the first time, you'll understand your wife, what makes her tick and why she acts the way she does. The mystery of trying to understand the opposite sex vanishes after reading this book. Have a blessed Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. Let us not forget that
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May you grow in the grace, and in the knowledge of our Master and Savior Yeshua the Messiah. To him be the glory both now and forever.