Galation 6:1–2
"If a person be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ."

As we go into this New Year, we feel it necessary to begin with FORGIVENESS. Some will be familiar with the emphasis in various traditions of "confession of sins" on a regular basis.

Certainly we all sin in one way or another, and we all offend our brothers and sisters in faith. I must admit to the need to ask forgiveness and to forgive on a daily basis. So, for all we may have offended we acknowledge our need to be forgiven. But to practice what we preach – we need to preach what we practice. So we extend forgiveness to those who judge and gossip.

• I Kings 8:30, 34, 36, 38-39, 50; II Chron 6:22, 30, 39.
• Psalms 25:18-19 "Look upon my affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins. Consider my enemies and those who hate me with cruel hatred."
• Psalms 86:5 "For you, Oh Lord are good and READY to forgive and righteous in mercy to ALL WHO CALL UPON YOU.

Many are inclined toward gossip and slander when a brother or sister are "overtaken in a fault."

• Jeremiah 18:22 "Let a cry by heard from their houses, they dig a pit for me (gossip and slander) and snares for my feet." Some Christians are SPYING on others in offices, businesses and even in their own HOMES! Security cameras to keep an eye on babysitters, burglars, etc. are understandable, but in private areas when visitors come?

A man once observed the great philosopher, Aristotle, in an embarrassing act. He approached the great man (remember, Moses was approached by someone who saw him kill an abusive Egyptian). The man revealed what he saw and said "But why? You are the great philosopher Aristotle!" The philosopher replied, "When you saw me, I was NOT the great philosopher, but Aristotle THE MAN!"

As Christians do WE stop being human? Do we have a right to accuse and destroy others for their faults, when we ALSO have faults. Scripture admonishes us to GO TO THE PERSON – not to OTHERS.

• Proverbs 25:9 "Debate your cause with your neighbor him/herself and expose not a secret to another. Back to verse 8: Go NOT hastily to strive lest you don’t know what to do in the end thereof when your neighbor has put you to shame."
• Ecclesiastes 10:11 "Surely the serpent will bite without encouragement and A BABBLER IS NO BETTER."
• Proverbs 11:9 "A HYPOCRITE with mouth destroys his neighbor."
• Matthew 7:5 "You hypocrite, first remove the beam from your own eye, then you can see clearly to cast the speck out of your brother/sister’s eye."

It is very important to reconcile to those we have offended and to those who have offended us.

• James 3:17 "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable, gentle and compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy."
• See also Psalms 94:18.
• Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men/women their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. If you forgive NOT men/women their trespasses, your Father will not forgive you."
• Matthew 18:21 Peter asked Jesus – how many times should I forgive in a day? Seven times? Jesus explained NO- seventy TIMES seven!
• Mark 11:25-26 "And when you are praying, FORGIVE, if you have ANYTHING against ANYONE, so that your Father, also in Heaven may forgive YOU YOUR trespasses. But if you do NOT forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive YOUR trespasses."

Recently, due to our own disappointments in Midland, TX - a time which caused much pain - the TV station, losses of our son, brother and mom, I showed much emotional strain. It is important here to emphasize, we both forgive and ask for forgiveness. Our stand against false doctrine, however still must stand in the light of God’s Word.

• Jude 3:3 we are exhorted to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
• Jude 3:4 refers to the heretics who destroy this once delivered faith.
• See also I Timothy 1:10; II Timothy 4:2-3: Titus 1:9-10; 2:1, 7-8.

Jesus emphasized:

• Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged, condemn not and you shall not be condemned, forgive and you shall be forgiven."
• Matthew 5:23 –24 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar and while there remember that there is something between you and another (my paraphrase), leave your gift there and go your way, first to be reconciled to that person and THEN come and offer your gift."

You realize that if you have a grudge, have gossiped, are unforgiving, have judged or condemned, - Matthew 5:20 "… except YOUR righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees."- all this to say – "Is God accepting your "GIFTS?"Psalms 37:21; 109:16.

• Luke 17:3 "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother/sister trespass against you, rebuke him/her. If he/she repents forgive him/her."
• Luke 17:4 "And if he/she trespass against you seven times a day, each time, forgive him/her."

The scripture emphasizes these things MANY times. There must be a reason that we are told to forgive, to speak to the one we are offended by, and not to defame their name for having been overtaken in a fault - Galatians 6:1 – but to restore that one – remembering you yourself can also be overtaken/tempted.

• Jeremiah 31:34 "… I will forgive their iniquity and REMEMBER THEIR SIN NO MORE."
• Lamentations 3:17 describes what happens to those who are slandered (even if they did err) "You have removed my soul far off from peace; I forgot prosperity.

Believe us, when people discredit your calling due to a human weakness or error, most everyone will forsake you and you go without ministry support. As the scripture emphasizes

• Lamentations 3:14 "I was in derision to all my people, and their song (criticism) all the day (time)."
• Luke 23:34 "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."
• See Matthew 6:14-15; 18:35 Mark 11:25-26.

We’ve discussed the forgiveness of God’s Word. We trust that the upcoming year 2001 will be a year of understanding, due to the admonition of the Word.

We’ve received information from Jack Heintz of "Peace for Israel" in Florida. Earlier in this letter we mentioned that even Christians are "keeping an eye" on others. While America and Canada allow such freedom, some instances may actually erode freedom. We are all familiar with George Orwell’s "1984" - "Big Brother watching" could become a reality. Read on….

A teacher from Florida Atlantic University, South Florida was guest speaker at the church Jack attends. Dr. Joe King, a Christian, was actually involved in the development of a microchip to be implanted worldwide into every individual. According to Dr. King this will be inserted into the individual’s right hand between the index and middle finger or at the hairline on the forehead! This is aimed toward a "cashless" society. Any individual will be traceable to within 32,000 miles. Dr. King DID ask his pastor whether he should be involved – his pastor advised him to continue as a Christian who could bring good out of the project. We therefore have a first hand report! Revelation 13 could be a soon coming reality. Luke 21:28 "Look up – redemption draws near!"

This is our year-end letter. We do need to hear from you if you would like to receive this newsletter in 2001. Please fill the form. If you can – help with some support – we appreciate it. If you are not able to help financially – simply send the form and indicate your prayer support. Thanks. Please keep in touch in 2001.

Brakhot La Shanah Ha Khadashah! Happy New Year!

In His perfect love,