From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Thursday, November 6, 1997 11:42 PM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Personal Testimonies
From: "Jon Foster"
To: <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject: Personal Thanks
My Family in Faith,
First let me say thank you for your insightful ministry through this list
group. As a newcomer I have already been blessed. I am particularly
appreciative of your emphasis (Eddie) on our need to be in a personal
relationship with our living Lord.
I was raised in an evangelical Christian context where the need for a
personal knowledge and acceptance of Christ was stressed. However, I have
often felt a missing warmth in what I have often considered a "traditionless
tradition." Even the word tradition has suffered much -- (sometimes I feel
we've thrown the baby out with the baptismal water).
My sincere heart's cry echoes the psalmist's: "Show me Your ways; teach me
Your paths; guide me in Your truth..."
In this regard, I have often been drawn back to the God of the "First"
Testament where His character and ways are so richly portrayed in His acts
and traditions.
I feel it is a tremendous loss that so many in our churches have (perhaps
inadvertantly) de-emphasized the Old Testament thus becoming (in my opinion)
cultural/traditional orphans. They (we--I am included) strive for God not
realizing that He has given us "ways" to know and realize His wonderful
presence.
As a pastor, I personally feel challenged to better acquaint my congregation
(where rigid N.T. legalism is alive and well) with the God of grace
beautifully revealed in the Old Testament. I have kept an "eye out" for
anything that would assist me in this task realizing that my own
understanding of our Hebraic roots is limited.
Again, I thank you for the insights that I am gleaning from this group--they
are in part an answer to my prayers and have already served to enhanced my
own walk with God ...Thus my journey continues.
In His Wonderful Name
Rev. Jonathan (Jon) Foster
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To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Testimony
From: Beverly E Bull
Dear Hebraic Roots newsgroup,
I have just recently joined this group, and really look forward
to seeing the questions people write and the answers given, and the
uncommon interest shown by so many to be re-attached to the roots of
our faith.
I am from a Jewish (non-observant ) family, and became a believer in
1973. The first church I went to as a new believer had other Messianic
believers, celebrated the Passover, and had a pastor (gentile) who
loved the Jewish people and the OT as well as the NT - and taught from
both. Most of the rest of my life I've been in churches that followed
"replacement theology", though , I think, out of ignorance. I never
learned about my Jewish heritage until 4 years ago, when my husband
got a job with the UN in Jerusalem. Our family had the great blessing
of being able to live there for 3 years, and my life totally changed!
It was almost as dramatic as being born again! As I met Messianic Jews
and learned about Jewish festivals by the daily. life in Jerusalem, I
was hungry to really read and study the Torah and the Prophets. I was
astounded to SEE that the "last days", which I've longed for and
thought were far off, were really beginning. The re-formation of the
land of Israel, the return of the Jewish people to that land in
MIRACULOUS ways, and the beginning seeds of Jewish people coming to
know the Messiah - I was just overwhelmed by all that I saw and
learned while there.
Since returning to the USA, however, I've felt like I was living in a
"dry and weary land" in comparison. Only a very few folks I've met
have the interest or passion for Israel or the things the Lord is
doing to reawaken our Jewish roots of faith. I'm so interested to
learn, yet rarely find anyone to express my thoughts to. So, to read
these things is an encouragement to me. I saw a reference to something
in one letter, that perhaps you have written about in the past. Could
you send it on to me if you have?
You wrote about different "roles" or obligations for Jewish and
gentile believers. This is one thought that has not left my mind for
the past 3 years, since returning from Israel. After re-reading
carefully the Old Testament, I've kept thinking that if God said He
wants us to "keep a commandment eternally", we should still be
observing it today - not for salvation, which is His gift to us in
Messiah, but out of love and obedience, and by the power of the Ruach
Ha Kodesh, who lives in us. I have struggled, without an answer, or
even anyone to discuss it with or pray about it with. The churches we
have gone to since returning back act like I'm out of whack for even
considering such a question - and just talk about how we're not under
the Law but ruled by His grace. Before this would have sufficed, but
now, it just leaves me quiet and still with the questions in my mind.
My family gladly celebrates the Jewish feasts, out of a good
remembrance of our time in Israel, and Shabbat, but I feel both very
special (to be part of the remnant), and very alone. Any comments or
answers?????
In Him, Beverly
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From: Helen Segura.
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Re: Newsgroup Testimony
Dear Newsgroup,
I praise God for you all and the way you enrich my life and
daily walk with Jesus. I just wish I had more time to dedicate to this.
At the moment I have got my husband interested - and living in Spain I
also need to get Spanish material. I have noted the Comvision site that
did not have very much the last time I visited. Translators, let's get
going!
By the way, Eddie, I am well into chapter 4 of the Bride book, but the
html pages are going very slowly.
>From Eddie:
**************
If you need help with the HTML, we have members of this
newsgroup who would be willing to volunteer and help you.
When are you going to organise a meeting,
conference, or whatever over here in Europe?
>From Eddie:
**************
I am unable to do this. Only God can do it. If He does it and
wants me to go, I will be there.
Blessings to you all,
Helen Segura.
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From: Stephen Yulish
Subject: My life revisited once again
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
You have been the ones who have stood with me during these days of my
"re-education". In my own mind, nearly everyday, I think about my life
now as opposed to several years ago. Why? I was a professor at the age
of 28. I had the world by the tail, at least that I thought that I
did. I published a book, my dissertation, and numerous academic
papers. I gave papers at national conferences. I shared the stage with
Stephen jay Gould. I wrote a novel, "The Other World" which was a
modern day fable of the demon goddess, Lilith. It bounced around New
York for years. I even did a reading of it in a loft in Greenwich
Village. I knew that Stephen Speilberg's mother had been a member of
Beth Joseph Congregation in Phoenix. I tracked her down to the Milky
way deli in La. I sent her a letter to please tell her son about my
book-it would make a good screenplay for him. She refused. I sent it
to Speilberg, anyway. To Amblin entertainment c/o Paramount Pictures.
they sent it back unopened. Afraid of a lawsuit.
This book was the most new age, demonic book that you could imagine. I
glorified evil and Satan. I blurred the distinctions between good and
evil, reality and dream and even male and female. I quoted from the
lost gospels found at Nag H- ammadi. I even gave to my wife paula to
read when we first met in 1987. This sweet Christian lady read a
chapter and gave it back to me appalled!
Here I found myself working for a Christian telemarketing firm selling
precious metals to Christian listeners of a radio program. Me, a
professor, a leader in the Phoenix Jewish community working for
Christians. My life had been turned upside down by the trauma of a
divorce, my children had moved to Charleston, SC, my father had died
and my heath had begun to falter. I went into Barrows neurological
center in phoenix and they found extensive brain lesions with an MRI
and other tests. All of this and I was now working for Christians to
boot. The staff prayed for me, my clients prayed for me. How nice.
When the my coworkers tried to preach to me I slammed them. Afterall I
had not only been a part of the Community relations Council in the
Jewish community which investigated missionaries but I had lectured at
the university of Arizona on anti semitism and the Holocaust. Who did
these people think that they were. I acted like Shaul to them. I
flogged them with my tongue, a frequent Jewish tactic. We fight with
our tongues , not our fists. One fellow said that he was so frustrated
with me that he felt like throwing me over the balcony. I replied, "Oh
that's Christian!" They waved the Bible in my face. "read isaiah 53"
read psalm 22". I replied "read this!"shaking my fist!
One day I went to Philip's house for dinner while my girlfriend, a
Jewish new ager, was at work. After dinner we all stood in a circle
holding hands. he had fed me dinner so I decided to humor him(actually
his love was tugging at my heart). We prayed-at least they prayed. I
closed my eyes and saw an image darting across the plane of my vision.
I blinked. it came back. When we were finished, Phillip asked me what
I had seen. I said, "nothing". How did he know. he must have opened
his eyes and seen me grimacing. he said again, what did you see
Stephen. Finally I answered that it was stupid, forget it. well
phillip kept insisting. Finally I told them. I saw a man in a suit if
armor waving his sword at a being in a monks robe with no face.
Phillips mouth fell open. He ran and got his Bible and showed me
Ephesians 6:10. I did not know what he was talking about. I did not
know the Bible.
Things like that began to happen as the Holy spirit was showing me the
word visually. Not to much later, I was sitting at my desk at the
office, we all had cubicles. I was trying to close a large deal when
an image appeared infront of me. I looked around to see if anyone else
saw it. Nobody! It was Jesus on the cross. his head was down. It was
night, or the sky was dark and there was lightning all over the sky.
Quite a sight for a nice Jewish, new Age college professor, pharisee
type person. I was dumfounded. I told no one. the next day I saw
another vision. This time Jesus was on the cross but it was daylight.
he lifted up his head and light poured out of his eyes. He broke the
fetters and got off of the cross. he then proceeded to walk all over
the earth with the light still pouring from his eyes. remember that I
did know the Bible at that time especially the new testament.ie Jesus
is the light of the world! I had told Phillip that I would not believe
unless I saw the burning bush for myself. Scripture says that Jews
seek signs. Well God was showing me! That night I had a dream that I
had to die(be crucified) for all my friends to live. I anticipated the
flogging on my back and the nails though my hands. it was a powerful
experience which cannot truly be put into words. I knew instantly
what Jesus had done for me. I awoke looking at my hands. the next day
I said the sinners prayer and accepted Jesus into my life. my sister
said that thy had got me. Praise God.
That was on October 3, 1988. paula and I married on march 30, 1990. I
had to leave the company in April of 1991. My health had been to
hamper me. but do not pity me. God all along had a plan for my life.
Do I miss my former accolades and achievements? No! As Paul said I
count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ(Philippians
3:8).
Almost as soon as we got married I began to keep a diary of my
discourse with the Lord. Last year I wrote a book, "With Wings like
eagles" which focuses mainly on the period from Jan. 1996 to Sept.
1996 with flashbacks to my earlier experiences. Keep it in prayer.
Yesterday God told me to retrieve some earlier conversations which I
had not put into the book. I don't know why but I dug them out. Wow In
retrospect I can see that God had a plan all along for my life. He
wanted me doing exactly what I am doing now. Serving Him all day
everyday. On the night of June 17, 1991 I had a dream or experience. I
was standing in our living room and suddenly it had begun to rain.
But it was not not water that fell from Heaven but drops of sparkling
light. They rained over me and through me.(Hosea 6:3, 10:12).
On January 28,1992 I dreamt that I was supposed to write a book about
the Joshua Principal? On 2/12/92 I had written as told by the Lord,"No
man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. just
as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. I will not fail you nor
forsake you(Joshua 1:5). be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or
be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go(Joshua
1:9) Not one of the good promises which the Lord has made to the House
of Israel failed-all came to pass(joshua 21:45). You know in all your
heart and in your soul that not one word of all good works which the
Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed. All have been
fulfilled. for you not one of them has failed(Joshua 23:4). Love the
Lord your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and
hold fast to Him and serve him with all your heart and with all your
soul)Joshua 22:5). you are to cling to the Lord, your God as you have
done to this day."(Joshua 23:8).
At this time I had not worked since April of 1991. our house was in
the process of being foreclosed. I did not know what the future would
bring. I clinged to he Lord. In August of that year we moved to
flagstaff. Still did not see what the lord had for me. Did the
reservation thing for 2 years until the Lord finally took me out the
world to serve Him exclusively. That was over 3 years ago. I feel
stronger and healthier than ever. I spend everyday serving the Lord
because He was there for me. He never failed me nor forsaked me. He is
my rock and my comforter and supplies me with all my needs. When I am
weak physically as paul said, then i am strong spiritually. His grace
is sufficient for me.Praise His Holy Name forever and ever!
Thank you for this indulgence. it was as much for me as it is for you.
I need to constantly remind myself what the Lord has done for me.
God Bless,
Stephen Yulish
P.S. I had a dream on 2/15/92 about "New Life"? tried to figure out
Hebrew for it-'Chai Chadasha'
Two years later Chayim Chadashim was born!
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