June 2004

Shalom Mishpochah,

Neil celebrates his 68th birthday on June 10, 2004. After writing the May newsletter, Neil went for a routine procedure in an outpatient facility here in Ft. Lauderdale while Jamie waited, praying over the prayer requests that you send to us each month. She was taken by surprise (although God was not) when the urologist came out and told her that he found the unexpected: a malignant tumor in Neil’s bladder. The tumor had already been taken out before we even knew that it was there! The pathology report showed a stage 1 tumor, not connected with the prostate cancer Neil was cured of three years ago. We, of course, do connect them. They come from the same source: the devil. Our plan is to combat this evil the same way we did last time: spiritually first and foremost, nutritionally, and then medically as the Lord leads. Your prayers are deeply appreciated for wisdom concerning treatment. At the moment, we are considering the standard BCG treatment after our June trip to Spain, giving Neil’s body time to heal from the surgery and experience some rest and refreshing. Neil’s response to the news was, and is, as follows: "Well, I’m encouraged by this attack. It means that God is not through with me yet. He still has ministry for me to do, or the enemy would not be trying so hard to get rid of me."

Last month, on the National Day of Prayer, as Jamie was praying and fasting, the Lord gave her three promises from Scripture for Neil. Please claim them with us, even as we claim them this month for YOU! Exodus 23:25 "So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you."

Isaiah 46:3-4 "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you!"

Isaiah 65:22b-24 "For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble, for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them."

Neil’s response to a second bout with cancer demonstrates a mind stayed on Yeshua. Romans 8:5-6 says: "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Shalom is possible, regardless of the diagnosis, when one lives according to Romans 8. The Bible tells us that as believers we have the "mind of Messiah," (I Corinthians 2:16). We are exhorted to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2), to be renewed in the spirit of our mind (Ephesians 4:23), to have the same mind in us that was in the Messiah Yeshua (Philippians 2:5), and to not be soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit (i.e. a spirit of fear), nor by word (i.e. a diagnosis by a doctor), nor by letter (i.e. a biopsy report)... (II Thessalonians 2:2 with our comments in parentheses). We all need to cling to the wonderful promise of II Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." We must remember that spiritually speaking, we are dead and our lives are hidden with the Messiah in God (Colossians 3:2-3). We are spiritual beings living in fragile, earthen vessels. Our real treasure is God’s spirit that dwells within us. Jamie had a dream the other night about our trip to Spain. We were sitting at a table in a restaurant and a waiter asked us where we were from. Jamie answered him: "Somos del cielo y hemos venido para bendecir a España y a su pueblo." ("We’re from heaven and we have come to bless Spain and her people.") In an hour when Americans are not very popular in Europe, and Jews even less, the Spirit’s answer was quite appropriate. It is true: We are from heaven. We are children of El ElYon, the Most High God. We are just passing through, and our real home is a celestial one.

In the three hours that Jamie sat in the outpatient waiting room, she also read some of the articles sent to us by some of you. (Frankly, it’s hard to wade through all the mail we receive, but our Jewish Jewels staff, including Jamie, still reads every piece of mail.) Jamie came upon a short story that touched her heart as she sat waiting for Neil. She decided to read it to him while in post-op. The story follows:

Does this story bring tears to your eyes too? It is a good one to share during the month of June, as so many marry and celebrate wedding anniversaries, and as the institution of marriage is gravely threatened in our country. If you have a husband, he is your greatest treasure after Yeshua. If you have a wife, the same is true. Jamie read the story to Neil as Barbara, a nurse, listened also. Neil was touched, but so was Barbara. She began to pour out her heart to us, telling us how blessed she was to be 56 years old (Jamie’s age) and to have been married to a wonderful man for 33 years (same number of years as us). She only had one request of God–that He would give her and her husband a place to live on the beach (Jamie’s desire when we are empty nesters). The God-incidences were what we have come to expect of our Abba and of course we prayed for Barbara right then. Neil had an opportunity to share the Gospel with her as Jamie went to get the car. He promised to bring her some literature about Yeshua and a copy of A Kiss A Day, which she was very interested in. Barbara is Jewish (surprise!), spiritual and open. That same day we both returned to see her and give her a "spiritual goody bag." Please intercede for Barbara Z.’s salvation. It is forthcoming.

This month we are sure that the Lord wants to remind all of us about the powerful promises and proclamations found in the eighth chapter of Romans. We live in an evil day with darkness closing about us, but our greatest hour is yet to come. We are being prepared as a glorious bride. Romans 8 helps us understand how to cooperate with the Ruach Hakodesh in this process. Let’s admire the jewels:

Romans 8:11 "But if the Spirit of Him who raised (Yeshua) from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Messiah from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." This promise is a powerful one. Think of the power that raised Yeshua from the dead, a miraculous, dynamite-like power. That same power dwells in each one of us who have received Yeshua as our Messiah. It is a life-giving Spirit which parallels the dwelling of God’s Spirit, His glory or Presence (Shekinah) in the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:22) and later the Temple (I Kings 8:10-11). As we point out on our new Jewish Jewels television program "The Tabernacle," in Yeshua we become the Aron HaKodesh, the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron’s rod that budded (one of the three objects inside the Ark) symbolizes the resurrection life of the Spirit of God that now indwells us as it once dwelt within a golden box. Actually the Ark was wood, lined with gold. So are we: flesh and blood on the outside, with divinity on the inside.

God’s Spirit brings life from the dead. We were all dead in trespasses and sins, but God has "quickened" us (Ephesians 2:1). The Lord has the power to resurrect dead dreams, dead relationships, dead talents, even dead bodies. Let’s believe God for resurrection life this month. Have you been gravely afflicted physically? Proclaim Psalm 118:17 over yourself: "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord."

Romans 8:15 "For you did receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." Rabbi Shaul (Paul) contrasts the spirit of fear and the spirit of adoption in this verse. There are certain words in the English language that tend to trigger a fear reaction. Cancer is one of them. Over the years, we have received multitudes of prayer requests from cancer victims or their loved ones and friends. Let us assure you of one thing: We do not have to fear cancer. God’s perfect love can cast out all fear and the torment that accompanies it (I John 4:18). God is greater than cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. Bondage means slavery. We used to be slaves to our habits, our emotions, our prejudices, and our sin, but the Messiah has set us free. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) The real key to victory is found in the second part of verse 15: receiving the spirit of adoption. It is absolutely crucial to receive the Love of God as Abba, Daddy. This is God’s best for each one of us. When we are secure in His embrace, and have a confident sense of being enfolded in His loving arms, we experience the deep peace that passes all understanding spoken of in Philippians 4:7. Without God’s adoption, we are orphans. Unfortunately, there are many believers who because of past rejection and abandonment issues, labor under an "orphan spirit." They have not yet entered into the glorious "spirit of sonship" which is their rightful inheritance in Yeshua. Does this apply to you or anyone you know? A book by Jack Frost called Experiencing the Father’s Embrace, Finding Acceptance in the Arms of a Loving God, will really minister to you. We interviewed Jack in our home not long ago, and plan to do an entire Jewish Jewels program on receiving the love of God as Father.

Romans 8:31-32 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" God is indeed for us. He is our "yes" in Yeshua. "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him, Amen, to the glory of God through us" (II Corinthians 1:20). God’s gift of His Son is the ultimate proof of His great, unconditional love for us. While He did not require Abraham to go through with the sacrifice of his son Isaac, He did required it of Himself. God made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might have the abundant life through His Son Yeshua. He "freely" gives us all things. There is no god like our God, Baruch ha Shem!

Romans 8:35-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of (Messiah)? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in (Messiah Yeshua) our Lord."

Nothing, neither on earth nor in heaven, can break God’s covenant with His people. This includes Israel as well as all believers in Messiah. No matter what circumstances we pass through, in Yeshua we are more than conquerors. He is our victory. No power, in heaven or earth, can separate us from His love. This love, which never fails, is the basis of Israel’s election, and the election of every believer. May all of us be increasingly rooted and grounded in this wonderful ahaVAH (love) so that we experience the reality of Romans 8:35-39.

Our musical offer this month will enhance your personal time alone with the Lord. In the Cool of the Day by Paul Kendall is one hour of anointed instrumental music that will draw you into His presence as you meditate on His Word and pray for those matters that the Holy Spirit puts upon your heart. This CD has ministered to many during times of Worship Intercession prior to Shabbat services in our home congregation. Order your copy today and let His Spirit draw you in. Get several as gifts–you won’t be disappointed.

Three new Jewish Jewels programs were taped on Tuesday May 6, 2004. We experienced resurrection life on the set as we worked from 10A.M.–4:30P.M. God is Faithful! We covet your prayers from June 14–July 2 while we are in Spain with Barry & Nancy Kronman. Please also pray for our children who will be staying at home.

We’re excited about the Fall Israel Mercy Mission. There is still room for YOU–Call the Jewish Jewels office immediately! (Isaiah 66:10-13 is a promise from the Lord for those who go up to Zion with us.)

Thanking God for each one of you.

We love you,

Neil & Jamie

P.S. A real Romans 8:28:– Many Arab nations, hitherto closed to the Gospel, opened their door to "The Passion" because they had heard that it was "anti-Semitic." Movie theatres have been filled with weeping Muslims! Most are hearing the Gospel for the first time!

P.P.S. Believing for a Romans 8:28– So sorry! A book offered by mistake in February, Six Historic Americans is not a book by believers. Please call to order the correct book!