Sunday, May 11, 2014

Mexico Learns To Love Israel

Mexico is not an anti-Semitic nation, and for the most part, at least in Christian circles, there is a growing appreciation and developing brotherhood for all things historically Jewish among the faithful. Probably the main reason for this is the freedom of religion act that started in 1993 and the reality that many foreign missionaries have come to share the Jewish side of Jesus and more detailed information about the lives of the early believers with their congregations. Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Trust me, many Mexicans are learning to love Israel not for the blessings that follow the promise, but simply because it’s the right thing to do. They are, after all, God’s Chosen People. Be that as it may, in this one case, and it’s not isolated, a Mexican man decided to make an anti-Semitic website, he then got the Mexican officials to give it a green rating, despite obvious racism and anti-Semitism. I won’t show you the page or tell where to find it, but as one surfs the site and sees all the anti-Jewish stuff written all over the page in Spanish, you can see the man has built an openly racist site. Of course, everyone knows that anti-Semitism isn’t only found in Mexico, hardly! Racism and racial purity movements can be found in every country on earth. For that sickening and sad statistic, I am personally sorry and so ashamed. I know people have asked me, “Where was God during the Holocaust?” And, my questioning answer is, “Where were all the human beings during the Holocaust?” Back in November 27, 2012, in Mexico City, Jacqueline Hoist, the President of the Council to Prevent Discrimination in Mexico City, said that 35,000 messages were posted on Twitter that where against the Mexican Jewish community. Said Hoist, "There is a call to hatred against the Jewish community that affects coexistence and creates a perception of fear, it creates bad behavior. It’s true that a large series of disgraceful electronic assaults against members of the Jewish Community in Mexico occurred via Twitter. Just like the rest of the Jewish-Zionist garbage, it poisons the consciousness of the Mexican people and therefore should disappear." Even as good as Jacqueline Hoist’s words are, the Chiapas Herald takes an uncritical view of a local festival where they celebrate the burning of Judas and other Jews, reporting that as far as it concerns Mexicans, this anti-Jewish display, “fosters unity and respect,” and “purifies the soul.” All Christians have a duty to love the Jewish people for their donations that gave beginnings to the Christian faith. Jesus Christ was an outstanding Rabbi from Nazareth and He said, "Salvation is of the Jews!" John 4:22 We should carefully consider what the Jewish people have imparted to Christianity: The Sacred Scripture, The Law, The Golden Rule, The Prophets, The Patriarchs, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus Christ of Nazareth, The Twelve Disciples, The Apostles, ETC. It is impossible to say, "I am a Christian," and not love the Jewish people. The Bible teaches that love is not what you say, but what you do, 1 John 3:18
. In life we know that a bell is not a bell until you ring it, a song is not a song until you sing it, and love is not love until you share it. While some Christians try to deny the connection between Jesus of Nazareth and the Jews of the world, Jesus never denied His Jewishness. He was born Jewish, He was circumcised on the eighth day in keeping with Jewish tradition, He had his Bar Mitzvah on his 13th birthday, He kept the law of Moses, He wore the Prayer Shawl Moses commanded all Jewish men to wear, He died on a cross with an inscription over His head, "King of the Jews!” Jesus considered the Jewish people His family. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren (the Jewish people), ye have done it unto me.” Part of any missionary or outreach pastor’s job is to biblically teach about the relationship that exists between Christians and Jews. And, I certainly do that and so do my students. And, we promote love, relationship and connection with our Jewish friends, even with those living in Mexico. This flyer is still posted on a wall near the beach in Ensenada and it’s a bit confusing as an X crossing the photo might mean, ‘no, not a good thing to do.’ But, it can also mean, ‘yes, a good thing to do.’ When people go to vote in Mexico they must draw an ‘X’ over the candidate of their choice. I hope that in this case it means, ‘no, not a good thing to do!’

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Happy Mother’s Day, 2014 On this tiny planet, on this very ordinary human plane, apart from Jesus, God’s only Son, our Mothers are one of, if not, the most valuable gifts that God has given to us. They should be treasured as much as is refined gold and pure silver. Mothers are most often the ones who not only cultivate the good in their children, but they also love each of them unreservedly. Mothers are teachers of kindheartedness, tenderness and pluckiness. It’s been said that a woman, when she becomes a mother, becomes complete in heart, mind and purpose. She shines in this role and works hard at becoming a real, true and living heroine and at being a life-builder as she does her best to serve her children with such a deep and real love that she would willingly lay down her life to save her children from harm. Mothers are amazing. Mothers keep infants alive, they sacrificially care for them, gently cuddle them, bathe and change them and then mold them into little boys and girls that would die without her tender and continuous care. In the Scriptures, there are ample citations, in which mothers are regarded as the matchless individuals. Genesis 3:20, “Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.” Leviticus 19:3, "Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God." Isaiah 66:13
, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." A giant and powerful Happy Mother's Day, to all my family and friends that are mothers or that still have their mothers living around them. Mine is in Heaven and I know that she is doing just fine. I do miss her. I hope to see her again and to honor and worship the God that gave me to her. He knew what He was doing. I pray for all the Mothers, God’s Best and Richest Blessings to all who are reading this message. Please, know this, you are blessings sent from God to a needy and nearly dead earth. You bring much happiness to the world. Your work here on earth is extremely valuable. And, I mean that. Amen. "Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever." Author Unknown "The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." Henry Ward Beecher "A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them." Victor Hugo