The Broken Covenant

Bobservations Column
By Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Early in my Christian walk, I learned that the New Testament is hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is revealed in the New. Today’s study is one of many examples of the truth of this statement. 

Reading the Book of Revelation comes with its own blessings. And in the final chapter, there are warnings: 

1. Anyone adding to God’s words would result in the plagues of Egypt being added to that person’s life. 
2. Anyone taking away (deleting) the words of this prophecy, will have their name removed out of the Lamb’s Book of Life. 

The God Who Saves

Bobservations Column
By Pastor Bob Lawrenz

The false gods of the Israelites in ancient Judea are the same gods that their neighboring nations worshiped. In fact, the entire Mediterranean region mostly worshiped the same gods, though they were called by different names according to each culture. From Egypt to the Middle East, from southern Europe to Asia minor, their false gods were just the same pagan gods that every non-Jewish culture followed and to which sacrifices were made. Ashtoroth, for example, was the goddess of fertility. She was also known as Astarte, Ishtar, Dianah and was called by several other names throughout the inhabited world. These gods ranged from the absolute paganism of ancient Egypt and Canaan, to the mythological gods of Greece and Rome. Each deity had their own counterpart in different cultures. 

The Father’s Heart

Bobservations Column
By Pastor Bob Lawrenz

If we believe that Jesus was God-in-the-flesh, then He shows a depth of emotion as He wept at the death of Lazarus. It was His personal sorrow. Perhaps even more is revealed as Jesus says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem...” He spoke of the Jews as a whole, because they killed the prophets, and rejected their words; even God’s words. This then, is the heart of the Father. He has emotions! John 6:63 says this: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” 

Middle East Update

Bobservations Column
By Pastor Bob Lawrenz

This week's Bobservations is taken from "BEHOLD ISRAEL" NEWSLETTER - Amir Tsarfati, week of 9/15/19

"The Middle East is once again on the brink of war, and once again, Iran is in the center of the saga.  The 19 cruise missiles and drones that Iran sent towards the largest Saudi refineries in eastern Saudi Arabia managed to paralyze half of its daily oil production and cause some major tremors in the global energy markets.  Both the Americans and the Israelis can confirm that low-altitude cruise missiles were used in the Saudi oil attack and they were flown in from the north.  The missiles and drones were launched from an Iranian base near the border with Iraq.  US officials said that intelligence indicates that Iran was the staging ground for a debilitating attack on Saudi Arabia's oil industry and have shared the information with Saudi Arabia.  Both countries are weighing retaliatory strikes.  Iran, as always denied involvement." 

I will be your God

Bobservations Column
By Pastor Bob Lawrenz

There are numerous verses in the Bible that tell us of God’s plan for His people here on Earth. While God’s love for mankind is never ending, and freely given, God offers us a conditional promise that accompanies His unconditional love. Namely, if we obey His word, He will be our God, and we shall be His people. As testimony to His grace and mercy, the Old Testament records this promise several times as God speaks through His Prophets to a rebellious and “stiff-necked” people.

A promise like this sounds to me like an exercise in frustration, but for our God, who forgives upon asking, and whose mercies are new every morning, it appears to be do-able. In addition to the promise itself, it’s His Word throughout all generations, and not applicable to the Jews only. Heaven is open to all who will return His love, and honor Him in all His mighty works by praising Him and living in righteousness.