Dear Friends,

Here are some photos taken at our holiday conference retreat taken during our week at the St George George Hotel in Harrogate, which concluded this morning. Thirty people booked in for the teaching event, but often in the evenings are numbers were swelled to forty and over with local Christians and friends meeting up with us. 

A splendid time was had by all including a very entertaining Christmas Carol sing-a-long in the hotel's foyer last night, when several of the other holidaymakers also joined in with us!   

Our impromtu "carol service" was splendidly led by Dorothy on the Grand Piano as pictured, and others seen include Brian, Gilly, Ali, Sally, Hazel, Barbara, Pat, and Keith. More to follow from the retreat over the weekend.

MORE PICCIES AND INFO TO FOLLOW SOON. 

BRIAN GEMMELL TESTIMONY

Middle Eastern Pastor Braves Threat of Death to Spread the Gospel of Jesus

POSTED ON NOVEMBER 14, 2014 BY MARCIASETTLES

Originally posted on Christian Patriots:

Note: Middle Easterner Shant (purposely not using his last name or nationality for his protection) became a believer in Jesus Christ in 2006. With God leading his every step, Shant has assembled a congregation of nearly 30 believers in his war-torn country and continues to hold services despite the threat of persecution, and perhaps even death. His English is good, but some of his answers have been edited to compensate for his lack of total knowledge for the language.

CN: First and foremost, how did you get saved? Who told you about the gospel of Jesus Christ and when did that happen?

S: Actually, this takes me almost 8 years back when I was a young guy that has been hurt by hard situations within my family. We lost everything and became in need after previously enjoying a rich life. Moving away from that affected me so hard and took…

View original 181 more words

Shemitah and the Economic Cycle

November 14, 2014 by John Little - OmegaShock.com | 0 comments

Many have come to me and talked about how closely the Economic Confidence Model(ECM) correlates with what Jonathan Cahn says about the year of Shemitah. Also, both ‘models’ indicate that there will be economic fireworks after the Summer of 2015.

Curiouser and curiouser.

So, I thought that I would add my own two-cents to this issue, and tell you what I think about this correlation. And yes, I DO admit that there is a correlation. But, it’s probably NOT the correlation that you think.

Also, please be careful. Judaism and Christianity do not mix. Consulting Talmud about such questions is wrong.

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Shemitah and the Economic Cycle

Just to make everything clear, I have an absolutely profound love for the Jewish people – and even the Arab people. And, God has a profound love for the Jewish people, too. But, I do not like how many Christians have been consulting Talmud to understand the Bible.

I understand why Christians would want to do that. The Jews have spent thousands of years trying to understand the Old Testament, just as we have. And, the Jews are just so… well …smart about the whole thing. And, when you have a love for the Jewish people, you tend to identify with them.

Judaism Is Anti Jesus Christ

But, as much as I love the Jewish people, I also know that they have rejected Christ. And, they have spent the last almost-two thousand years reinforcing that point. Even the Jewish people have understood this.

Several years ago, when I was living in Israel, I heard one Jewish theologian remark:

95% of Judaism is the statement, “we are not Christian”

And, I completely understand that. Almost two thousand years ago, Judaism and Christianity were remarkably similar. In fact, the only thing separating Judaism and Christianity was a person:

Jesus Christ

Since the rabbis were dead set against the acceptance of Jesus, they decided to emphasize elements within Judaism that would ‘protect’ their followers from becoming Christian. And, when that wasn’t enough, they added elements and concepts to keep Christianity at bay.

Then, when the Second Temple was destroyed, Judaism found itself further twisted with even more concepts and traditions. And, all of that was codified in the Talmud.

I believe that it is a sad thing to twist a religion and culture like that, but it is their right to do so. Just as it is their right to choose to suffer for eternity in the life to come.

No One Is Half-Saved

Please understand that salvation is like being pregnant. Just as there is no such thing as being ‘almost pregnant’ or ‘kinda pregnant’, there is no such thing as being ‘kinda saved’. To put it another way:

God doesn’t have nieces and nephews

God only has sons and daughters, and I hope and pray that you are counted as one.

The rule for all Christians is this:

Anyone who does not acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord, Savior and God – is not saved. Period.

And, anyone who does not conform to that rule, is:

antichrist

Not THE Antichrist, but little-a-antichrist. And, we were all antichrist before we were saved. To say otherwise is to demonstrate how little we know about salvation.

Anti-Zionists Are Fools

That’s why I am always mystified by the anti-Zionists who use the Jewish people’s hatred of Christ as an excuse to hate Israel. Such fools do not understand that it is a rule that those who are not Christian will hate Christ and His followers.

And yes, I believe everyone who doesn’t understand this a fool.

Why?

Because this demonstrates such a colossal level of spiritual ignorance about the most basic tenet of Christian faith, that it leads me to put a question mark over the idea of whether such a person is truly saved. And THAT is my definition of a fool. The alternative is to admit that you are colossally ignorant and uneducated about the principles of God.

God promised to save the Jewish people in Israel one day, but until then, they will be against what WE believe. And THAT is how salvation works. To believe otherwise is to label yourself a fool or an ignoramus.

Okay. I think that I’ve gotten off track a bit, so let me get to the main point:

I haven’t talked much about Shemitah because of the connection to Judaism.

But, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something that is worth talking about. So let me do that.

Shemitah Is Spelled Wrong

By the way, the other thing that I dislike about ‘Shemitah’ is the spelling. It just rubs me wrong to see a Hebrew word misspelled like that. The proper spelling is:

shmita

And, it is pronounced like this:

shmee-TAH

But, since everyone spells the word as s-h-e-m-i-t-a-h, I will spell it like that too. But, just know that I will grumble and grind my teeth every time I do so.

Shemitah Short-Circuits The ECM

Okay, I’m getting off track, yet again.

So, how does the year of shemitah (grr!) and the Economic Confidence Model (ECM) intersect?

My answer:

I believe that observing the year of shemitah will short-circuit the ECM.

Let me explain.

Shemitah Is Not A Law Of The Universe

First of all, the year of shemitah is not a universal constant like pi, Planck’s Constant or theCosmological Constant. The year of Shemitah is a law imposed upon us by God.

But, God did that for a reason.

Here is what Jesus said about the Sabbath:

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: –Mark 2:27

The same goes for the year of shemitah. It doesn’t matter which year you start counting from, the seventh year is the year of shemitah. The Universe doesn’t revolve around a seven day or seven year rhythm.

A Year Of Shemitah Is Good For Us

It is WE who need to live according to a seven year rhythm.

To put it another way, it is good for us to rest every seventh day and every seventh year – whichever day or year that you might choose. Otherwise, we fall apart at 8.6 year intervals (i.e., the ECM).

Of course, no one has ever rested on the seventh year. Not the Jews, not anyone. Nor have we observed a seventh year for the release of debts – which is what shmita means. So, we don’t know what life would be like if we observed a year of shemitah.

But, take a moment and think about what would happen if we released everyone’s debts on the seventh year. Think about what would happen if we took a year off from work after six years. Think about what would happen if you didn’t charge interest on debts.

For one thing, you wouldn’t have any people who were ‘super rich’. It would be difficult for anyone to take advantage of anyone else. There would be no fractional reserve banking to distort an economy.

Since We Don’t Do Shemitah, We Have The ECM

What Martin Armstrong did, when he discovered the Economic Confidence Model – or ECM – was discover an 8.6 year rhythm to human nature. For whatever reason, we human beings decide to take a part of our hard work and pitch it out the window after a little more than eight and a half years. Some obviously do it more than others, and some sectors of our economy do it more than other sectors. But, that doesn’t change the fact that – as a group – we tend to destroy a large part of our productivity every three thousand, one hundred and forty one days.

Could it be that there is something inside of us that desperately needs a sabbatical, for a year, after six years of hard work?

I think so.

Just as God gave us the sabbath to rest, for our good and not His, God also gave us a sabbath year for our good. And, I believe that we – as a society – are most vulnerable to the 8.6 year cycle described in the ECM, because we do not observe the seventh year of release and rest.

So THAT is how I see the connection between the shemitah and the Economic Confidence Model.

I truly hope that you’ll be ready for this
(That’s a link. There’s not much time left.)

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. – Proverbs 22:3

TURKISH CHURCH WEBSITE BLOCKED BECAUSE OF PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENTS!!

TURKISH CHURCH WEBSITE BLOCKED BECAUSE OF PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENTS!!

The Turkish Daily NEWZ

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Church Website Blocked As 'Porn' by Turkish Parliament; Lawmaker Calls it ‘Embarrassing, Humiliating and Defaming’ Posted: 09 Jun 2014 10:52 AM PDT Aykan Erdemir, a member of Turkey's Parliament, planned to travel to Diyarbakir Church in mid-June. In preparation for his visit, he looked for information about the church on their website. He did not get far. His office computer in the parliament building blocked the church website with a message that it contained "pornographic" content. Checking the websites of other Turkish Protestant churches, Erdemir and his colleagues found them all blocked, though the filtering screens did not mention "pornography" as the reason. Although websites are occasionally banned in Turkey - the most notable in recent months being YouTube - the website for Diyarbakir Church, in southeastern Turkey, is not under a national ban. The block only affected computers in the parliament, and it was quickly removed after Erdemir complained. "The lifting of the block on the Diyarbakir Church website was a small step for internet freedoms in Turkey, but a big step for internet freedom in the Parliament," he said. Erdemir, who represents the western province of Bursa in the main opposition Republican People's Party, said the episode is a symptom of deep-rooted governmental antagonism toward Christians, especially Protestants, and of Turkey's increasing intolerance towards minorities. He described the block on the website as, "humiliating, embarrassing and defaming." The newspaper Daily Hurriyet reported Thursday that the filter killed two birds with one stone-it simultaneously worked to prejudice Parliamentarians and to attack minority groups. "They are just trying to support their own party's politics and agendas with inflammatory and marginalizing language," said Ahmet Guvener, pastor of the Diyarbakir Church. "This is embarrassing and outrageous and they should apologize for this." Guvener, a convert from Islam, said he does not feel he has equal rights with other Turks, and that his country regards him as a threat. His phone, he said, has been tapped since 2007, when three Christians were tortured and murdered in the city of Malatya. "They have been listening to my phone without a break since Malatya," Guvener said. He claims to have seen his name on wiretap lists, and that police continue to question him about subjects he has discussed on the phone with other Christian believers. He believes that law enforcement authorities consider Christianity to be one of the country's greatest threats, and that military training has reinforced an attitude of marginalization. "They really don't see Turkish Christians as citizens of this country," he said. "Turkey knowingly intimidates Christians here, so in my opinion, the block on our website was done knowingly." Link

BRIAN GEMMELL ON FACEBOOK.

BRIAN GEMMELL ON FACEBOOK.

You can always read more about Brian Gemmell on his Facebook page.

The link to facebook is https://www.facebook.com/brian.gemmell1

Problems viewing this email? View it on our website. 13 NOVEMBER 2014 Barnabas editorial “The Islamic State will remain”: IS’s tightening grip and its threat to the future of Christian communities The Islamist group Islamic State (IS) has been asserting its control over territories it occupies in Iraq and Syria, in a series of developments that will be devastating to Christians displaced from their homes in these areas. Read more... The leader of IS, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi   Latest international news New Indonesian government set to extend religious freedom to all citizens Indonesia’s new government plans to restore religious freedom to all minorities, as per the country’s 1945 constitution. With less than a month in their posts, the President, along with the Ministers for Religious and Home Affairs, are taking steps to ensure freedom of worship for all, bringing hope to the country after years of religious persecution. Read more... Joko Widodo was inaugurated President of Indonesia on 20 October 2014 Kreshna Aditya 2012 / CC BY-NC 2.0 Islamic rebels form a political party in the Philippines The Philippines’ largest Islamist rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has announced that it will be forming a political party called the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJ). Read more... MILF militant Keith Bacongco / CC BY 2.0 Prince Charles advocates for persecuted Christians to House of Lords, British MPs sign letter pleading for Aasia Bibi In a video broadcast to the House of Lords on 4 November, the UK’s Prince Charles has voiced his concern about the suffering of Christians in the Middle East. And in a letter addressed to Pakistan’s Prime Minister and Chief Justice, 54 British MPs appeal for urgent attention to the case of Aasia Bibi, who was given a death sentence for “blasphemy” in 2010. Read more... The suffering of persecuted Christians was discussed in the Houses of Parliament 47 youngsters killed at Christian school in Nigeria, while Christians in Mubi forced to flee after Boko Haram renames it “City of Islam” A suicide bomb attack in a Christian secondary school in the town of Potiskum in Yobe state, north-eastern Nigeria, killed at least 47 people on Monday (10 November) as the students gathered for morning assembly. Boko Haram is thought to be behind the blast, having carried out several attacks on schools giving a Western-style education. Read more... The homes of Christians are often burned in attacks in north-eastern Nigeria

"A Dead Caliph vs. the Hydra of Jihad" By Raymond Ibrahim.

http://www.raymondibrahim.com/islam/a-dead-caliph-vs-the-hydra-of-jihad/ Is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-styled “caliph” of the Islamic State, injured or dead, as some in the media are eagerly speculating? Better question: does it really matter? For almost a decade now, every time an Islamic jihadi leader is killed, the Western mainstream media exult, portraying the death as a major blow to the jihad. And, for almost a decade now, I have responded by posting an article that I first wrote in 2006 for Victor Davis Hanson’s website, Private Papers. Although I changed the names of the jihadi leaders killed to suit the occasion—first Abu Mus‘ab al-Zarqawi, then Abu Laith al-Libi, then Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayub al-Misri, and finally Osama bin Laden—my conclusion has remained the same: "The West’s plight vis-à-vis radical Islam is therefore akin to Hercules’ epic encounter with the multi-headed Hydra-monster. Every time the mythical strongman lopped off one of the monster’s heads, two new ones grew in its place. To slay the beast once and for all, Hercules learned to cauterize the stumps with fire, thereby preventing any more heads from sprouting out. Similarly while the West continues to lop off monster heads like figurehead Zarqawi [or bin Laden, al-Baghdadi, etc.] it is imperative to treat the malady — radical Islam—in order to ultimately prevail. Victory can only come when the violent ideologies of radical Islam are cauterized with fire. But alas, the Hydra-monster is myth, while radical Islam is stark reality." Eight years later, this “stark reality” has manifested itself into a head-chopping, infidel-crucifying, mass-murdering, female-enslaving Islamic State. And yet, in the previous years, proclamations of “victory” were habitually made by media and politicians whenever a top jihadi was killed. Recall all the exultation that took place in 2006 after al-Zarqawi—the forefather of the Islamic State, or “Al-Qaeda Second Generation”—was killed. Then, almost every major politician, including President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, and Iraq’s Prime Minister Maliki, gave some sort of victory speech. The New York Times called his death a “major watershed in the war.” Similarly, in 2008, after Abu Laith al-Libi was killed, Congressman Peter Hoekstra issued a statement saying that his death “clearly will have an impact on the radical jihadist movement.” More myopic triumphalism was in the air after Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayub al-Masri were killed in 2010 during a joint U.S.-Iraqi operation. Then, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden said the “deaths are potentially devastating blows to al-Qaeda in Iraq [the original name of the Islamic State],” adding “This operation is evidence in my view, that the future of Iraq will not be shaped by those who would seek to destroy that country”—an assertion that has now proven woefully wrong. Similarly, U.S. commander Gen. Raymond Odierno asserted that “The death of these terrorists is potentially the most significant blow to al-Qaeda in Iraq since the beginning of the insurgency,” adding that it would be “very difficult” for the al Qaeda network to replace the two men. And who could forget all the media triumphalism, if not hysteria, surrounding the 2011 death of Osama bin Laden? Then, CNN security analyst Peter Bergen declared that “Killing bin Laden is the end of the war on terror. We can just sort of announce that right now.” Insisting that the “iconic nature of bin Laden’s persona” cannot be replaced, Bergen further suggested that “It’s time to move on.”... Keep reading

WHY THE SILENCE? 

November 12, 2014 at 8:48 pm

Some have asked why I haven’t written for a while. The reason is that I had a long-standing bout with a lingering, hacking and wheezing cough that made life very uncomfortable. It effectively prevented me from working, carrying on a normal conversation, sitting, sleeping and other normal activities, including sitting and writing. While the situation is better, the coughing is not yet completely gone. I would truly appreciate your prayers for full healing and restoration. Thanks.

The Third Intifada – Is it here or not?Anyone who is trying to keep abreast of events happening in and around Israel is, or at least should be, keenly aware of the constantly increasing violence that has characterized Jerusalem in recent weeks, and is now spreading to other parts of the country, both north and south. There are those who contend that this is simply a pro-“Palestinian” uprising that will fade with proper action, while others assert that the third “intifada” has already begun.

 To read this story in its entirety and others, too, click here to access Marvin’s blog

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Or send an e-mail to publications@hcfellowship.org

"Are Your Bags Packed?" By Grant Phillips.

"Are Your Bags Packed?" By Grant Phillips. 

It is my observation that more Christians are realizing we are approaching Christ’s

return. Unfortunately, they still comprise a very large minority in Christendom. All Christians will be taken by surprise when this takes place because none of us know God’s timing for the Rapture. However, most Christians will REALLY be surprised since they either do not believe in the Rapture of the Church or are unfamiliar with this event.

Sad to say, many of those who will not be a part of the snatching away (Rapture) of the true Church, will be shocked, horrified and angry. Others will be delighted that we are gone.

The Bible is very clear that prior to the seven years (Tribulation) remaining on Israel’s time clock, the Lord Jesus Christ will remove His Church. By my saying, “Are your bags packed” I simply mean for Christians, “Are you looking for our Lord’s return?” For those who are not Christians I am saying, “If you are alive at that time, will you have made yourself ready between now and then?”

If we were to use this analogy of having our bags packed, what would a Christian pack in his/her bag? Could we say, “I packed my church membership or my good works?” No, we cannot say that, because no one can become a Christian (a follower of Christ) apart from simple, child-like faith in Jesus Christ. This simple faith in Him has triggered our repentance and total faith in Jesus to save us and to keep us. We are saved by His grace through faith and nothing else. So, there is nothing we can pack that assures our place in Heaven unless it is something that comes from Him.  What could that be?

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV)

My wife and I have learned over the years when going on vacation to pack lighter and lighter because we rarely use most of what we take with us, especially the clothes. When the Rapture occurs our clothes will be the righteousness of Christ, and that is all we need. That is the only thing that will guarantee our admittance in our Father’s house anyway.

I have no idea of the percentage, but I dare say that the world at large believes we must provide our own works to gain entrance into Heaven. Even in religious circles, most seem to think we have to add something to help Jesus out in our salvation and even to keep us from losing it.

If you are relying on anything other than child-like faith in Jesus Christ to save and keep you, you are remiss in what God requires of us.

How many pride themselves on the name over the church doors thinking that church organization is all they need? They’re a member now, so everything is okay.

How many gloat over they’re supposed good works, thinking that surely they could never be denied Heaven because they are such a good person?

Even true faith is often misunderstood today. It is actually politically correct today to proclaim, with chest out, that we have faith. Most everyone is talking about faith, but it is an empty faith. I, and I’m sure you too, have heard many over the last few years boast of their faith, thinking that is all they need. They can live like hell, but as long as they have faith, everything is okay, because they have faith. However, their faith is a sham, because it isn’t real. The issue here is that a true Christian speaks of a real faith that rests in Jesus Christ and Him alone. The world talks of a faith that could be in anything and often is.

The Bible says:

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:14-26 NIV)

On the surface, this seems like a total contradiction to Ephesians 2:8-9 which says,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)

God does not contradict Himself, so what is He saying about faith?

He is saying in Ephesians 2:8-9 that our works cannot save us, but faith in Jesus Christ can save us, and only because of the working power of His grace.

He is saying in James 2:14-26 that real faith, the faith of Ephesians 2:8-9, will produce works. Again, works do not save. Only faith saves, by God’s grace, and real faith will give birth to works. True faith gives birth to good works as a woman gives birth to a child. Otherwise, pseudo faith is a barren womb that produces nothing.

Keep in mind that the child comes from the woman, not the woman from the child. Produce comes from the garden, not the garden from the produce. Therefore, good works come from real faith, but true faith must exist to produce good works.

Many will stand before God and pull out of their over-packed baggage church membership, walking down the aisle, helping others, being nice, love, deeds of all sorts, etc., etc., etc., but still face eternity in hell.

Those who will spend eternity in Heaven will have no baggage. With empty hands they stand before God and claim only the righteousness of Christ He bestowed upon them when they rested their faith in Him. They have rested their faith in Jesus Christ and put their soul in His hands. Their heart recognized His forgiveness at the cross and His keeping power at the empty tomb. They called Jesus their Savior and lived for Him as their Lord. He is their King of kings and their Lord of lords. Did their living for Him save them? No. Their faith saved them then inspired them to live for Him. Jesus will then say of them, “He(she) is Mine.”

Don’t bother with all that baggage. Come to Jesus with simple child-like faith. Then you can have the assurance that you are His because you placed your trust in Him and Him alone.

Grant Phillips