my sister, my bride!"
(Song of Songs 4.10 NIV)
1 November 2000
Dear Haverim Family!
Shalom and blessings to you in the name of Messiah Yeshua! He is the risen Lord, presently reigning, suddenly returning. Even so, "Maranatha!"
I write to you during the course of a brief "touch-down" in Dayton for three days in between traveling engagements. I just returned from Colorado and leave tomorrow for Michigan. Then it's on to Tennessee... then to Georgia... then North Carolina. This busy time of travel and ministry finally breaks in the third week of December.
For my sweet bride and dear sister in the Lord, Keren Hannah, this intense schedule is a real "baptism by fire" into our new ministry life together. Four days after our wedding we left for a conference in Denver, and for the most part we will live out of our suitcases for the first two months of our marriage!
I would not recommend this lifestyle to everyone -- and it certainly is inconsistent with the wisdom of the Torah, which stipulates that a newly married man is exempt from war for the first year of his marriage. My teaching schedule, however, was set long ago, even over a year ago in some cases, and cannot easily be changed.
On the other hand, it is true in some respects, that "home is where the heart is." Keren's and my heart are so bound together in the Father's love that we are finding joy and contentment in the service of Messiah no matter where we are. To have her with me in these travels is a blessing beyond measure and transforms the whole trip. How pleasant it is when husband and wife dwell together in unity!
But I am getting ahead of myself here... There is sooo much to tell -- truly far more than I have words to adequately express. Everyone who hears some of our testimony of how our loving Father graciously, remarkably and even sovereignly joined us together says, "You must put this story in a book. It is so amazing!"
Indeed it is a wondrous story that, at every point, glorifies God and displays His handiwork. So at the appropriate time and occasion Keren and I will speak of these things in detail, either on tape or perhaps in a written account. Indeed we must do so-for the Father's sake even more than our own-to declare His mighty deeds and to honor His grace, goodness and faithfulness toward us. Great is the Lord and great should be His praise!
A Fantastic Feast Sukkot 2000 was truly a Feast for body, soul and spirit! Never was our worship so intense, our praises lifted so high, our spirits soared so greatly as at this year's Feast of Tabernacles celebration.
The first night upwards of 1000 people, and the second, an estimated 1500 people assembled to rejoice in the goodness, grace and salvation of the God of Israel. People from more than 20 states and 6 foreign countries came to Dayton with such enthusiasm to celebrate The Feast. In an awesome demonstration of New Testament koinonia, 16 ministries, a 60-piece orchestra and choir, and 150 volunteers contributed their skills, energy and time to make this festal celebration worthy of the One whose Feast it really is.
Two or three things, from my perspective, made this celebration unlike any other. First was the exceptional spirit of humility, enthusiasm and consecration all the leadership people exhibited throughout the months of preparation and the actual production of the Feast celebration. The theme scripture, quickened to us by the Holy Spirit nearly a year ago, was that "All the ends of the earth shall the salvation of our God" (Isaiah 52.9).
That word came to literal fulfillment at this Feast. People from the "ends" of the earth actually saw the salvation of God (Yeshuat Elohim) in the actions and attitudes of the participants. All that was done was done "unto the Lord," and the joy and glory of the Lord filled the house-to the praise of His glory!
Second, was the participatory character of the proceedings. Unlike many other impressive and worthwhile Feast celebrations, Sukkot 2000 was not so much a "performance" as a "happening." People came with a sense of expectancy to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and praise-and they did so with fervor and joy. Even the 100 children actively participated and danced before the Lord. The spirit of worship within the congregation was electric and the presence of God enthroned in those praises tangible.
Finally, credit must be given to the Lord Himself for the success and special spirit that attended this Feast. His majestic sovereignty abundantly and evidently manifested throughout the entire Feast planning and proceedings. Supernaturally He called people from the nations to attend, and in the workshops, He sovereignly brought healing into the lives of hurting people. Never before have we had such a sense of God Himself orchestrating, anointing and so "enjoying" the Feast and those present at it. In every way Sukkot exceeded our expectations and even hopes. Only the King of the Universe can accomplish that!
Of course, the most amazing and visible symbol of His sovereign hand at work was in the marriage of Keren Golan and myself. The ceremony, at the beginning of the Saturday night celebration, was incredibly sweet and moving. None of us had ever experienced anything quite like it before. As one prophetic person perceived it, it was like the uniting of the Church and Israel under the wings of our Father's love. And great was the rejoicing that issued from that union!
The bridal procession entered first, preceded as it were by a party of virgin dancers with their lamps lit. The gorgeous bride, adorned as a princess of Israel, entered carrying the harvest symbols of Sukkot, the lulav and etrog. Then, at the sounding of the shofar, the bridegroom's party entered the sanctuary from the far side to the refrains of Jonathan Settel singing the Kaddish ("Yitgadal v'yitkadash shmei rabbah ..." - "O magnified and sanctified be His great name ..."). Preceded by the elders of our community, a Messianic rabbi entered carrying a Torah scroll under the covering of a large Tallit banner. As the banner bearers and the rabbi went up to the platform, I came across the large auditorium for my bride, who sweetly bowed before me when presented by her dear friend and former employer from Israel, Boaz Michael. I then led Keren Hannah up to the tallit chuppah, which we entered together and took our vows before the Lord and His covenant community of faith. At the end, after the virgin dancers had circled the chuppah, I led Keren out and together we rejoiced before the Lord with a handkerchief dance to the lively refrains of The Flatbush Waltz by Itzhak Perlman.
O dear friends, it was a magical moment that neither I nor Keren nor the 1500 present shall soon forget. The joy of the Lord and the sweetness of His fellowship was so vivid and intense that we all were giddy. From that extraordinary moment, the celebration went on for two hours of rejoicing, worshipping and heartfelt and enthusiastic celebration in keeping with the biblical injunction: "And thou shalt rejoice in thy Feast" (Dt. 16.14).
Wedding Pictures on Website More than 50 pictures from the Feast of Tabernacles are now available for viewing on the Center's beautiful new website: jcstudies.com. You can access four different groupings of photos: the Friday night celebration; my Saturday morning plenary address; the Saturday evening Grand Convocation; and wedding related pictures taken during the Saturday evening program.
Our creative website director, Chris Chernesky, also configured three pictures from the Feast that can be downloaded to your computer as screen savers, if you wish! There also are two new articles by me on the site. So be sure to check out all the goodies on jcstudies.com! Second HSD Offered! In last month's Update mailing we included a preliminary registration form for the annual Haverim School of Discipleship in Dayton, to be held March 27-31, 2001. We indicated that a full brochure would follow after the Feast. To our amazement, in less than three weeks the School was completely subscribed with 30 advanced registrations. We even have 6 paid registrations on the standby list at present.
In view of this response and high level of interest, we are pleased to announce that we have secured an additional date with the Bergamo retreat center for a second school, June 5-9, 2001.
The Haverim School of Discipleship is five days of in-depth study and intensive interaction between Haverim and me in a small group, classroom format, situated in a retreat setting with meals and board provided. For me the HSD is the most educational and rewarding teaching experience of my entire year. The last one we held was life changing for the participants.
If you need further information about the HSD, call our office. If you are interested in wrestling with some of the most important and foundational issues of our faith with me, then please pre-register immediately for this second school. Enrollment is limited to 30 Haverim members, and quite likely this second HSD will be fully subscribed as well.
See You in Savannah November 18, David Bivin from Jerusalem will conduct a Saturday seminar for the Center in Dayton. The book, Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus , that he and Roy Blizzard wrote in 1984, published by the Center, is now in French, German, and Japanese! His seminar topic will be "Understanding 'More' of the Difficult Words of Jesus." Call our office (937-434-4550) for details.
December 1-3, Keren and I will be in Savannah, Georgia, where I will address the national conference of The Remnant of Israel, "Go Through the Gates." An impressive array of speakers and worship leaders will assemble at the DeSoto Hilton, including Barry and Batya Segal from Israel, Claren McQueen, Mahesh Chavda, and Michael Brown. Call Susan at 912-351-0075 for details.
December 10-13, we will be in Wilmington, NC, for a seminar at the Coastal Community Vineyard Church. For details or directions, call the church office at 910-392-2899.
Days of Rage in Israel In the midst of our joy, we must also remember the terrible suffering occurring in Israel. Traditionally a crystal glass is broken at the end of a Jewish wedding ceremony, to recall the hardships of the people of Israel and the longing for the redemption of that Land and its holy city, Jerusalem by its Redeemer Messiah.
At the conclusion of our wedding at the Feast, the Rabbi walked around the chuppah, waving the lulav and etrog in four directions and up and down, as we prayed a blessing for the peace of Jerusalem and the prosperity of all of good will that dwell within her walls.
The situation in Israel currently is extremely dangerous and the cause of much despair in the natural. But because of the covenant faithfulness of God and His capacity to turn even what is meant for evil toward the good, we have hope and we pray accordingly.
As you know, the situation changes daily, and is steadily and progressively worsening. It really is a "mini-war" at present, and easily and swiftly could explode into a calamitous Middle East war involving several Arab nations.
If your coverage of this crisis is limited to reading or watching our national media, you are getting a very distorted and incomplete view of what is actually happening on the ground and behind the scenes. I highly recommend the daily e-mail updates posted directly from Israel by journalist David Dolan. You can subscribe free to these informative reports by e-mailing: imailsrv@cfijerusalem.org. Leave the Subject line blank in your heading. Then, on the e-mail text page itself, simply write the following: "subscribe ind" and then add your name. (E.g.: subscribe ind Joe Smith)
On a personal note, Keren and I have several friends living in Gilo, a suburb of Jerusalem that is fired upon nightly by Palestinians. Pray with us for their safety, and for the true peace that only the Prince of Peace can bring to the Land the Bible calls holy. The battle is the Lord's. Pray that Israel calls upon His name, relies upon His wisdom and depends upon His strength. "Shema Yisrael . . ."
