Charisma Magazine

 

Dear Friend,

Thank you for subscribing to our Standing With Israel weekly e-newsletter, which is usually sent out on Fridays. But on New Year's Day it isn't being published, which gives me an opportunity to ask you to bless Israel with an end-of-the-year donation through Christian Life Missions, our nonprofit partner. I say this because I believe that like me, you believe that God blesses those who bless Israel.

Genesis 12:3 says God promises Abraham: "‘I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you'" (NIV).

In my own life I have seen proof of this promise; when I have blessed Israel and the Jewish people, God has showered His blessings on me. That is why we have set up the "Bless Israel" fund through Christian Life Missions.

Over the last several years through Christian Life Missions and friends like you, we have helped buy an ambulance for Israel; helped rebuild a war-torn city near the Lebanese border; and provided bomb shelters near the Gaza Strip where Kassam rockets from Hamas rain terror on Israeli citizens who had no where to run and hide.

Many ministries raise money for Israel. However, some raise money for Israel but the funds never get to the intended destination, according to what I've been told by Israeli insiders. This has also motivated me to make a way for those who want to bless Israel to do so with integrity through a ministry like Christian Life Missions. We are a small ministry with little overhead expense. Most of what you give will go directly to "Bless Israel." Christian Life Missions has been around since the mid-1950s and has been a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability since 1980. Over the years Christian Life Missions has functioned with the utmost integrity and without a shred of controversy, so you can give with confidence.

As 2009 winds up and many of us think of places to give before the end of the year, won't you band together with others who (like me) believe in blessing Israel? If your gift is at least $30 we will give you a copy of David Brog's book Standing With Israel, which tells from a Jewish perspective why Bible-believing Christians are Israel's best friend. My company donates the books so everything you give can go to bless the Jewish people and Israel. We have sold or given away nearly 150,000 copies of this important book. If you haven't read it, you need to because it will bless you.

Never before have we asked for donations from the readers of the Standing With Israel e-newsletter. But as we sent out this request to our regular Christian Life Missions donors we decided to include readers of this newsletter because we want you to also receive a blessing by blessing the Jewish people and Israel!

Donations can be made by sending a check made payable to "Christian Life Missions," designated for "Bless Israel" in the check's memo line, and sent to Christian Life Missions, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, FL 32746. All checks postmarked on or before December 31, 2009 will receive a 2009 tax receipt.

Donations can also be made online at blessisrael.christianlifemissions.com with a credit card or through PayPal. To me, that's an even quicker and easier way to give.

Please check out our new Christian Life Missions Web site, christianlifemissions.com, which tells about all the ministries we support. But the ones closest to my own heart are those that bless God's chosen people. Won't you dig down and give a generous offering this last week of the year—as I'm doing?

God bless you for your generosity.

 

Steve Strang
President, Christian Life Missions
Founder and Publisher of Charisma magazine

 

Current events in Israel have brought much to mind regarding those in Messianic ministry today. Whatever the sociopolitical problems faced by those ministering in Israel, too many engaged in reaching the Jews are misunderstood. So, my review here is with an eye toward equipping leaders to help others understand this timely, prophetic and uniquely difficult ministry.

In an overwhelming show of support, the House of Representatives passed the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009 on Tuesday.

The bill, which passed 412-12, requires "the president to report to Congress three months after the law's enactment—and every six months thereafter—anyone who has provided Iran refined oil, helped to import oil or helped it develop its domestic refining capacity," the examiner.com reported.

Israel was disobedient to God, and Jesus was rejected by His own. Yet, God has not rejected Israel. He promises to make a new covenant with them when He will write the law of God on their hearts and put the laws in their minds.

The only sin we cannot remit for others is rejection of Jesus Christ. Even though many of our Jewish brothers and sisters have rejected Jesus Christ, we can still pray for God to give them the gift of faith to believe and also godly sorrow so they will repent.

Our group enjoyed another jam-packed day in Israel as we visited Bet Yigal Alon Museum, Tel Dan, Hazor, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Peter's Primacy and the Ein Ayub, the spring of Job.

And today I learned dreams really do come true. When I heard earlier this year that my name had been submitted for consideration, I struggled whether or not I should accept the invitation. The thought of making this trip without my wife Wendy really bothered me—until I had a dream one night in May.