Speaking out of conviction! Is this something rare in our circles these days? Is a mask placed over our faces to hide our real ideas and beliefs because we fear that they might not be “politically correct?” Is the so called “politically correct” ploy actually a code word to make people fit into the grand scheme of the cultural and political steam-roller that flattens everything into the same shape the same words the same forms? Would Yeshua and Peter and Paul fit into the politically correct system of the Roman governor and the High Priest's aspirations? Would prophets like Jeremiah and Amos and Hosea be permitted to speak in the people's court room today without fear of rejection and punishment? These are not unserious questions because in what seems to be a democratic society and a place where freedom is a premium commodity the greatest danger is that people fear their fellowman more than they fear God. People want to be accepted by their friends and peers and the fear of not being accepted or being rejected is so big that they are willing to close their eyes and mouths and sear their consciences in order to be like everyone else and find grace in the eyes of the society. It is right for Christians and Jews to take the teachings of Yeshua more seriously. Yeshua said: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19) Yeshua also said: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16) Yeshua also said: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt. 6:24)

Jeremiah the prophet of God says thing in a very clear way: “Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.” (Jer. 17:5-11)

If we really believe what God said in His Word we must fear God more than we fear man. If we really have faith more than we have religion we must put our trust in God's promises and be witnesses of God's love and His mercy and grace in a world that is merciless and evil. When I say that the world is merciless and evil I am not being pessimistic I am just being realistic and a little cynical. I see the United Nations being a forum for spreading lies and the private agendas of the “axis of evil” and other dictatorial regimes. I listen hard to hear a voice of sanity speak something out of biblical conviction and in favor of God. I hear the screams of silence from millions of people who are being used, enslaved, abused, denied their basic human rights, and the person who is doing all this gets to speak in New York and have an interview with Larry King Live on CNN. It is all in the name of being “politically correct.” Who will slaughter this holy cow called “politically correct” and be like Yeshua, Paul, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Moses, and speak the Word of God in love and kindness but with no less conviction and power and be willing to be labeled “Not politically correct,” but true!

I pray for the church and for the synagogue too to become a fertile ground and raise up and respect those who are speaking God's Word in love but not compromising the simple truths and loving message of justice and righteousness and judgement for all those who do evil and take people's freedom and twist the truth and mask the facts in order to find favor in the eyes of the world. We have churches that are full of people these days and empty of truth. People want to be prosperous financially and impoverished spiritually. People in our culture rather hear sweet lies that lull their consciences rather than desire to cross the street to help a poor homeless. I remember the old protest song from the Viet Nam war days, “What did you learn in school today dear little boy of mine?” Here are the words of this song. Please ask yourself if these words still resonate true? Than make up your mind if you as a disciple of Yeshua want to keep things as they are or you want to do something to change the world and make it better with Yeshua's Good News, God's Love, and a more biblical value system and lifestyle. You pray please and ask God to help you be a more fruitful disciple of Yeshua – follow Him!

Here are the words of the song: What Did You Learn in School Today (Tom Paxton)

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?
I learned that Washington never told a lie
I learned that soldiers seldom die
I learned that everybody's free
That's what the teacher said to me
And that's what I learned in school today
That's what I learned in school

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?
I learned that policemen are my friends
I learned that justice never ends
I learned that murderers die for their crimes
Even if we make a mistake sometimes
And that's what I learned in school today
That's what I learned in school. . .

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?
I learned that our government must be strong
It's always right and never wrong
Our leaders are the finest men
So we elect them again and again
And that's what I learned in school today
That's what I learned in school

Today was Simchat Torah and Semini Atzeret – the last days of the feast of Tabernacle. We finished reading the Pentateuch (five books of Moses) and immediately started again from Genesis chapter 1. It is always a great thing to start over and be a part of the never ending cycle of renewal based on God's Word. Our congregation in Jerusalem has been bursting from people and guest from all around the world. Today we had guests from Finland, Holland, England, United States, Norway, Singapore, Brazil, Venezuela, and probably I missed some countries from where we had guests today. The number of guests visiting our congregation has been disruptive to our own members because the guests seem to come earlier than our own members and last week some of our members came late and could not find a seat and went home. We have to pray for the building license to come quick and for the funds for the renovation and reconstruction to come. I realize that everyone is stretched to the max and I realize that everyone of you has been sacrificial and extended, but Jerusalem is Jerusalem and it has a priority both from the past and through all generations of God's children.

I heard today that my book “hidden treasures” has been translated to Chinese. Now it has been translated to German, Korean, Hebrew, and Portuguese is on the way. The Chinese translation is very important because there is not many book in Chinese that speak of Hermeneutics and especially not many books that deal with the Jewish Roots of the Gospels. China is one of the places where Christianity is growing and there is also a keen interest in Israel. Please pray for the Chinese version of the “Hidden Treasures” to have a massive impact on the Restoration of the New Testament Church and also the Restoration of Israel's faith in the Messiah.

Sara our dear sister that fell and broke a vertebra on Yom Kippur has been released from the hospital and she is in a convalescent home for a few days before she will go home. Please lift Sara up in your prayers and also pray for Zvi, Sara's husband. Keep praying for Marcia my wife, and for Ahuva, Ilana, Leah, Sarit, and the two Davids from our congregation in Jerusalem. Prayer has a sustaining power for both the people who pray and for those that are being prayed for. Please keep it up and mention us all in your daily prayers. Please also pray for Ruby, Liz, Tim Tucker, Paulo, Marcelo, and Anna.

The challenges that we face here are very big and some of them are such that silence is wisdom, but I can share with you all that God is working in the same ways today as He did in the days of old. God is at work and His promises will all be kept and all of Israel will hear the Good News and Respond to the Good News and be saved. This does not mean that all of Israel or even most of Israel will become Christian or Protestant or members of some Christian Denomination, but it does mean that all of Yeshua will receive Yeshua as the Messiah and savior of the world. Keep praying for Israel and find ways to bless Israel and especially those of us who are Yeshua's disciples in this land.

God bless you all and keep you and make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.

Joseph Shulam