Once upon a time, there was a very successful man. The problem was, he was a good man but a bad father. To make a long story short, his kids turned out to be really rotten—stealing on the job, sleeping around with customers, you get the drift.

If we’re not careful, we can make the same mistakes. We can be well-intentioned and love our children dearly but still mess up. So, avoid the four big fathering errors outlined below.

1. Being preoccupied with things other than your kids. What takes up most of your time? What fills most of your thoughts? Are you aware of what your children are doing, reading, listening to and watching? Do you know their friends? If you’re preoccupied with things other than your children, shift your focus back to them.

2. Refusing to see the reality of who your children are. We love our children, but as the saying goes, love can be blind. Of course, we should look for the good in our children, but we also need to be realistic when it comes to seeing them for who they really are. It is only then that we can help them grow in their challenge areas.

3. Rationalizing our children’s wrongs. “He’s really a good kid; he just attracts bad friends.” “She’s really a nice girl; I know there must be a reason she talked back to her teacher.” When our children do wrong, we owe it to them to give them loving consequences.

4. Failing to respond to the warnings of others. If your child’s teacher points out troublesome behavior, don’t just listen—do something. If you have caring friends who tell you that your child is headed down the wrong path, don’t get angry at them or defend your child; take their warnings to heart and act … for the good of your child.

All Pro Dad is Family First’s innovative and unique program for every father. Their aim is to interlock the hearts of the fathers with their children and, as a byproduct, the hearts of the children with their dads. At , dads in any stage of fatherhood can find helpful resources to aid in their parenting. Resources include daily emails, blogs, Top 10 lists, articles, printable tools, videos and eBooks. From , fathers can join the highly engaged All Pro Dad social media communities on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

Was Yeshua a Zionist? No, He was not a Zionist; He was more than a Zionist.

Here are three dimensions of being “more” than a Zionist:

1. Kingdom or state. When Yeshua was raised from the dead, He taught for 40 days on the coming of the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). His disciples understood this to mean “restoring the kingdom to Israel” (v. 6). And while changing the disciples’ understanding of the timeframe, Yeshua affirmed that indeed, ultimately, He would restore the kingdom to Israel (v. 7).

The vision of Herzl and Ben Gurion was to have a Jewish state. We agree. However, Yeshua is proposing a kingdom. A kingdom is more than a state, just as the position of a king is greater than the position of a prime minister. Yeshua is returning to be King of kings, not just a head of state.

2. Shekinah glory. What kingdom did Yeshua and His disciples refer to as being restored? The only one that could be restored: the kingdom of David and Solomon. In that kingdom, the cloud of glory filled the temple (2 Chronicles 5) and fire fell on the altar (2 Chron. 7). However, in the kingdom of Yeshua, the presence of the Holy Spirit and the glory fire dwell inside the disciples themselves, not in the temple (Acts 2:1-4).

Which is greater—glory dwelling in the temple or glory dwelling in the people? Obviously, it’s the latter. The word Shekinah means “dwelling inside.” 

3. All nations. When Yeshua’s disciples asked Him to restore the kingdom, He sent them out to be witnesses of Him and His kingdom, from “Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and even unto the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In effect, He expanded the borders of Israel not just to include both sides of the Jordan (very “politically incorrect” these days), but all the way to California and Japan—to the ends of the earth. In so doing He fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah for Israel to be a “light of the nations” (Is. 42:6; 49:6).

Yeshua’s kingdom is for all peoples (Is. 9:6; 56:7). This is not just a Zionist state, nor even an Israelite kingdom. It is a worldwide commonwealth, or empire, under the rule of Yeshua the Messiah (great-great-great grandson of David and Solomon). 

Asher Intrater, along with his wife, Betty, is the director of Revive Israel Ministries, an apostolic ministry team dedicated to revival in Israel. The Intraters are committed to world evangelism, the power of the Holy Spirit, personal integrity, the lordship of Yeshua, the unity of the Church and the restoration of the nation of Israel.

For the original article, visit .

Wednesday night at Bible study, our pastor’s wife asked a powerful question: “How come two people can hear the same message but one person is blessed by it and the other walks away unchanged, saying, ‘I didn’t get anything from that’?”

She gave the analogy of how you can plant a seed in one place and it grows up strong and healthy, but you can plant that same seed in poor soil and it grows up withered and weak. So the problem in that case is not the seed but the quality of the soil.

She challenged us to prepare the “soil” of our hearts before we come into church, ready to receive the good seed of God’s Word. Then we can receive the blessings that come from it.

I challenge you to do the same thing in your daily life. Many of us aren’t experiencing change because the good seed of God’s Word is being scattered on either stony ground or being choked by thorns and can’t grow. If you want to see change and emotional healing, it is your responsibility to ensure your heart is good ground on which God’s Word can fall and grow.

Let’s look at three types of emotional ground:

1. Stony ground. This is a heart that’s rooted in unforgiveness or disobedience. Let’s discuss unforgiveness first. People hurt you, and you refuse to forgive them and move on. You feel justified in nursing your hurt. In fact, you’ve built a shrine to it! But God can’t move on a stony heart; by refusing to let Him replace your heart of stone with a heart of flesh, you are blocking your blessings.

Have the courage to feel again. Feeling can hurt, but He has given you the Holy Spirit to comfort you. You have to trust that if you release the people who hurt you to God, He will heal any wounds left behind:

“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified” (Is. 61:3).

If the issue is disobedience, then the path is clear: Confess the sin to the Lord, and repent (turn away from it). He is faithful and just to forgive you!

2. Thorny ground. This is a heart and mind full of worry, anxiety, fear and depression. All of these things impede your ability to hear and believe God’s Word. As such, the Word can’t sink deep and receive nourishment, o it either fails to grow or it grows up distorted by worldly influence and selfish desires. Jeremiah 2:21 describes this condition concerning the people of Israel: “Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?”

3. Good ground. This is a heart that is humble and obedient. You leave the door open for God’s grace to enter. You recognize that in God is everything that you need and that He cares for those He loves. That includes you!

If you sense that you are dealing with either stony ground or thorny ground, I’ve got an exercise that can help to break up the stony ground and clear away the thorns. So will you do a favor for me? Get a piece of paper and a pen, and write down everything that concerns you. Write about any past hurts that still haunt you or anything that worries you or makes you afraid.

Let God know everything that is on your heart. He doesn’t care about grammar or how you write. All He cares about is that one of His children is seeking Him and needs answers. Nobody needs to see what you wrote but you.

Writing everything down can help you see clearly about what is going on in your mind—and start to make sense of it. When you write your thoughts down, they have less power over you. Seeing the words written out can also help you discern whether what you wrote is the truth according to God’s Word or a lie from the enemy. I think of this exercise as “praying on paper,” a visual way to cast your burdens on the Lord and release them to Him.

In fact, I did this exercise myself recently because I had many concerns about family members and ministry. They were weighing on my mind, and I was having trouble letting them go. But after I released these concerns to the Lord through the writing exercise, I felt calm and confident that God is perfecting everything that concerns me.

Another helpful exercise is to write down what you hope your future will be. That will encourage you and help you to make wiser choices in the present to shape that future.

Don’t delay. God wants to bless you abundantly in all areas of your life. But you must do your part and prepare yourself to receive!

Kimberly Taylor is the author of The Weight Loss Scriptures and many other books. Once 240 pounds and a size 22, she can testify to God’s goodness and healing power. Visit and receive more free health and weight-loss tips.

The old adage that laughter is the best medicine still holds true today. We all need to laugh more. Here are some comedic releases that can help bring about a more pleasant atmosphere in your household.

1. Old tales. Your kids absolutely love to hear funny stories from your own childhood. Self-deprecating humor is always a surefire winner. Just don’t go too far with it and ruin their opinion of you. Sharing your past helps them bond and feel closer to you.

2. Creative bedtime stories. We all read bedtime stories to our kids. But do you make it funny? The laughter of your daughter or son is the most beautiful sound in the world. Add funny voices to the characters. Make hand motions. If you are the creative type, make up your own stories. Kids love to be included in the storyline.

3. Observing life. People-watching and making up funny stories as you go is great fun. Same thing applies for animals. You would be amazed how many silly conversations you can “pretend” they are having. Keep it light, though. You don’t want to teach them to be mean.

4. Unexpected moments. In his book UnCommon, Coach Dungy talks of the importance of being silly with your family. He gives the example of accidentally falling in the pool. Your kids love seeing you fall or pretending to be hurt. Maybe you accidentally trip and bounce off the couch, then the coffee table and land flat on your backside. Can’t miss.

5. Make up your own lyrics. Chances are, you are listening to their music anyway. It’s probably annoying. Make it fun for yourself and funny for them by changing the words more to your liking. Sing it loud and proud.

6. Impersonations. It could be anybody or anything, maybe one of their favorite television characters, maybe a famous singer or the queen of England. Who knows? Even if you stink at it, it will probably still be funny. The laughter might come from how bad you are at it, but it’s still humor.

7. Silly pranks. The timeless classic—the whoopee cushion. Funny 99 percent of the time. The whole joke depends on the timing. A quiet hush in the room, Mom in serious mode, ready to sit down and read. Boom. Now that’s funny. Pranks require catching the victim off guard. It also requires good sense enough to not be mean or destructive. Enjoy!

8. Crazy props. Funny coats. Wild hats. Fake buckteeth. Props rule when it’s unexpected. Maybe you are shopping with your wife and you and the kids are bored in the women’s section. Grab one of those big sun hats that always seem to be around and sneak up behind your kids. It will be funny. The key to humor is always timing.

9. The careful insult. Insulting humor can be very funny when done properly. However, you certainly don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Make light of certain prominent personality traits of your family members—including your own. Maybe your wife is a clean freak and your son a big jock. Overhype the trait. Just always be careful to do it with love in your heart.

10. Real-life situations. Everybody has bad moments. Maybe you just tapped into the back of the car in front of you. Maybe your bag of groceries, the one with the carton of eggs, just busted open two feet from your front door. Generally you might be inclined to say some choice words. Instead, make it funny. Lighten the tension. Making fun of yourself at these moments can turn a possible bad memory into a lifelong great one.

All Pro Dad is Family First’s innovative and unique program for every father. Their aim is to interlock the hearts of the fathers with their children and, as a by-product, the hearts of the children with their dads. At , dads in any stage of fatherhood can find helpful resources to aid in their parenting. Resources include: daily emails, blogs, Top 10 Lists, articles, printable tools, videos and eBooks. From fathers can join the highly engaged All Pro Dad social media communities on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

A few months ago, a reader wrote to ask me about a controversial weight-loss issue (the reader’s name has been changed):

Hello. I was wondering if I could get your opinion. Do you think surgery as a weight loss option is “against God”? I have struggled a long time, and am beginning to consider this option. Can it not be a blessing from God, having this technology and knowledge, to even be able to have this done? I know God can move mountains, including my weight. Does my interest in this mean a lack of faith? I know it is a gray area since the Bible doesn’t specifically discuss this topic. I’d love to hear feedback from another Christian woman about this. I appreciate your wisdom, and please pray for me that I feel God’s guidance. Also please pray for Him to free me from my obesity, and to know His will. Thank you. I’ve found your site recently and look forward to looking at it much more.—Blessings, Christine

I prayed before writing my response to Christine because I know how painful obesity can be. It is indeed a heavy burden, not only physically, but emotionally also. Here is my response:

Hi Christine,

Thank you for writing me! I saw your message just now and want to respond. You asked if I thought if weight-loss surgery is “against God.” As you said, the Bible doesn’t specifically say anything about that, so each believer needs to seek the Lord for themselves. But I can tell you the evaluation I’ve personally made.

Surgeries are generally used as a tool to fix something that is broken. Do you believe that something is wrong with the way your stomach or digestive system functions? Or is the problem with your heart and mind and the obesity merely a side effect of your health habits? You see, I once counseled a woman years ago who had had weight-loss surgery—but had gained all the weight she lost back. She told me, “The surgery fixed my stomach, but it didn’t fix my head.”

That is what I want you to think about: What habits or conditions led you to become overweight? Will weight-loss surgery deal with that?

In my case, I became obese because of years of overeating as a means to manage my emotions. So having a doctor perform surgery to adjust the size of my stomach would not have helped me manage my emotions. It would not have helped me heal my emotional hurts nor my abandonment issues. I had to take that stuff to the Great Physician: Jesus.

He healed me. It was a slow process, and the weight didn’t come off overnight. But come off, it did! Through the process, I strengthened my relationship with God, learned even more how much He loved and accepted me, and gained inner peace. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.

I pray for God’s wisdom to guide you in this decision. —God bless you, Kim

Two things have astrengthened my thoughts on this issue. I just read an article that caught my eye about the actress/singer Carnie Wilson entitled “Carnie Wilson Surgery for Weight Loss, Again.” It was the word again that stopped me in my tracks. I knew Ms. Wilson had gastric bypass surgery before, but I discovered from the article that she had gone back under the knife for lap band surgery after regaining the weight she lost from surgery the first time.

That’s the point; unless you deal with the issues and habits that caused you to gain weight in the first place, then a surgeon’s knife won’t fix it.

In addition, I saw a commercial for the Dr. Oz show in which he called gastric bypass surgery “The Underperformed Surgery You Should Be Getting.” I was appalled because Dr. Oz has great influence in the media and especially among women. Unless the obesity is caused by a physical issue with the digestive system that surgery can fix, and not by emotional issues and poor health habits, then I respectfully disagree with Dr. Oz.

My concern is that weight-loss surgery carries its own risks, among them infections, hernias and adhesions. I don’t believe opening yourself up to these risks is optimal if there are natural alternatives available.

Again, it’s about dealing with the cause, not just erasing the symptom.

I know losing weight can be slow. I know changing habits can be hard and frustrating. I know it is painful to open up old wounds and face past hurts or abuse if your eating habits are tied to that. But I also know that there is nothing too hard for God.

It takes time, a lot of patience and commitment to try new eating and exercise approaches until you find a healthy lifestyle that works for you. But if I had a choice between weight-loss surgery and losing weight the slower way by practicing good health habits, I’d choose the second option all day long because I love the person that I’ve become through the process.

To the lady I used to be who made the decision to lose weight the old fashioned way, I say, “Thank you.”

Kimberly Taylor is the author of The Weight Loss Scriptures and many other books. Once 240 pounds and a size 22, she can testify to God’s goodness and healing power. Visit and receive more free health and weight-loss tips.

For the original article, visit .

A few headlines jumped out at me over the last few days. First, the Israel Defense Forces produced a video showing Israeli soldiers helping Palestinian farmers with their broken tractor.

It was a human moment—a civil moment. It was a brief glimpse of what could be, if people started acting like human beings.

Those warm and fuzzy feelings didn’t last long.

Then came this headline: “Terrorist who killed 38 Israelis appointed as advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.”

Yes, this is real. Hussein Fayyad is one of the terror masterminds behind a massacre that left 38 Israelis dead in 1978, including 13 children. He was released in a prisoner swap with Israeli in 1985. Now Fayyad claims that Palestinian President Abbas (our partner in peace) signed a decree promoting him to the position of “advisor” to the president.

Just what could this kind of sick individual give advice on? We can use our imaginations.

Then another headline on the same day: “Hamas says abducting soldiers and kidnapping Israelis is at the heart of our culture and is a source of pride not shame.”

What could I possibly add to that?

And, here’s one final headline—this one from an Arab-Israeli member of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament). He is pushing for a bill that would make it illegal to draw cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. The bill also outlaws cartoons of Yeshua or Moses. But that’s beside the point.

This last headline is most disturbing to me, because this is coming from an Israeli. This is someone who enjoys all the freedoms of Israeli society, to the point that he ran for and won a seat in the parliament. And despite enjoying this freedom, he’s now pushing a law to stifle some of it. He wants to limit free speech—the same free speech that allows him to be leader in this country.

It’s sadly nothing new to hear Hamas or Fatah glorifying terror and murder and chaos and injury, although you’ll never hear John Kerry or William Hague or Barack Obama acknowledge this as the real obstacle to Israelis and Palestinians ever coming to a final peace agreement.

But it is very disappointing to see an Arab-Israeli pushing a law to limit freedom.

It begs the question, What are we doing here? What are we trying to settle? What are we trying to agree on? The Palestinians are looking to kidnap and kill us from without, and now Arab-Israelis are looking to squash our rights from within.

It can be exhausting and discouraging reading stories like this every day. I am grateful my hope isn’t in these men—but in my Savior Yeshua. They can try to ban cartoons of Him, but they’ll never be able to thwart His plans.

Chaim Goldberg is the director of media for Maoz Israel. For the original article, visit .

I have a Father’s Day challenge for you this week. (I’m giving you some lead time to think about how you can apply it.)

Here it is: Start one new habit that will make a difference with your family.

Think about one change you can make that will benefit your children or bring you closer to them, and then let Father’s Day be a time when you make a strong resolution to be that dad going forward.

Let me give you one example of the power this can have. This comes from a dad and granddad named Gary who read the guest blog from a few weeks back about dating your daughter, and he sent us his story.

It started two decades ago, when Gary attended a fathering seminar presented by our founder, Dr. Ken Canfield. After the seminar, Gary was inspired to start a new habit with his two kids: regular one-on-one lunch dates with his daughter and his son at least once a month. Through the years, he was faithful with those monthly lunch dates—not perfect, but he kept them going.

Now, I know that’s nothing earth-shattering or over-the-top creative, but it’s a great idea and one you might want to try. One-on-one time is extremely valuable in a world that’s getting way too busy—for dads and kids. The two of you get a chance to escape the frenzy of life and talk about anything, from serious to silly. If you’re a man of faith, maybe you would want to include a prayer for your child and his or her future.

I think you’ll find that your child will look forward to that time with you. Kids open up more and relate differently when it’s just the two of you. It doesn’t have to break the budget either. On a nice day, a brown bag lunch in the park is a great option. (See the Action Points below for more specific suggestions.)

To finish Gary’s story, his kids are now in their early 30s. His daughter is married and has two children of her own, and they still live nearby, so Gary still has a regular “lunch date” with her.

And that’s cool, but you know what’s even better? Gary’s daughter’s husband is doing it, too! Inspired by his father-in-law, he takes his 7-year-old daughter out to lunch on Saturdays.

And not long ago, Gary’s son and his bride had their first child, a baby boy. Already this new dad is talking about starting a “lunch time” with his son—just like Gary did for all those years and still does today.

This is the kind of thing I get excited about, because I believe this is an example of how, little by little, championship fathering will change the world for the better. Simple, everyday acts of love and commitment really make a difference in your family.

So, what habit can you start as a father this year that could become a pattern, a way of life, and maybe even be carried on in the next generation? Or maybe you’re already doing something that could inspire other dads. Please let us (and other dads) know by leaving a comment below.

Action Points for Dads on the Journey

• Schedule these regular one-on-one times with your child. Don’t let your good intentions fall to the side when other, supposedly more urgent matters come along.
• Lunch works great with most girls and some boys, but often boys communicate better “sideways”—when they’re next to you while doing an activity. So consider making that part of your regular time together.
• Whatever your one-on-one time looks like with your child, think about doing it somewhere other than home. Changing the setting can help your child relax and open up more.
• If necessary—like with teenagers—fit into their schedule. If lunch doesn’t work, do an early breakfast or late-night ice cream run.
• Even if you don’t spend much (or any) money on these outings, find ways to make them special, so your child looks forward to it each time.

Carey Casey is the CEO of the National Center for Fathering (NCF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the culture of fathering in America by enlisting 6.5 million fathers to make the Championship Fathering Commitment. NCF believes every child needs a dad they can count on, and it uses its resources to inspire and equip men to be the involved fathers, grandfathers and father-figures their children need. Subscribe to Casey’s weekly email tip by clicking here: I want tips on how to be a great dad who loves, coaches, mentors and inspires his children.

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I hit a milestone birthday recently. I’ll let you guess the number. How time flies. (Just saying that means I must be getting old.)

It’s good to be aware of the shortness of time. Let’s face it—at any moment, our work on earth could come to an abrupt end. Here are three ways to prevent burnout and still burn for God:

1. Assess the true value your time. Because it’s a limited commodity, time has enormous value. That’s why, throughout history, mankind has had an obsession with discovering and building better time-saving tools.

Recognizing the true value of time should make us thrifty in the way we spend it. That’s why Paul tells us to “redeem the time” (Eph. 5:16; “make the most of every opportunity” in the NIV).

2. Stop doing un-commanded works. So, should we say yes to every opportunity that comes our way? No! Paul says in the very next verse: “Understand what the Lord’s will is.” We should actually say no to many things—things that are not on God’s “to do” list.

Paul says earlier in the same letter, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). The fast lane to burnout is to take on un-commanded works—things that God designed for others to do, but not us.

Being productive in the kingdom has more to do with working smart than working hard. Working smart means knowing exactly which opportunities are from the Lord and which are not.

Our heavenly boss is less impressed with our busyness than our faithfulness—to do only those things He has prepared for us to do.

3. Get up and go. While some of us need to stop doing un-commanded works, others may have the opposite problem: They need get up and go. In Ephesians 5:14, Paul says, “Wake up O sleeper, rise from the dead.” The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up! Too many of us are daydreamers—thinking fondly of great things we will do one day, but that day never seems to arrive. The preacher George Truett once said, “To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge, to find the will of God is the greatest discovery, and to do the will of God is the greatest achievement.”

Time is a precious commodity, so let’s not waste a drop. Let’s not be caught sleeping on the job when the boss returns. And may He not find us burning the wrong candle at both ends.

“Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you. Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” —Ephesians 5:14-17

Are there some disciplines you’ve developed that have enabled you to be a better steward of the time God has given you? I’d love to learn from you. Please share your comments.

Along with his wife, Ann, Wayne Hilsden has served as lead pastor of King of Kings Community in Jerusalem, Israel, since 1983.

For the original article, visit .

“I can’t believe my life turned out this way. I am struggling with anger and disappointment with God. Is it worth trying to serve Him if this is how things turn out?”

Can you relate? Are you going through something in your life and wonder where God is? Do you find yourself debating if living the Christian life and serving God is even worth it? To be honest with you, I have been experiencing these feelings in my own life. I think if we were really honest with ourselves, we would all admit to thinking this way at some time or another.

Does having these feelings mean we are unusable for God? Well, the answer to this really depends on what our reaction is to our initial feelings. To understand what I mean, let’s look at the lives of two individuals in the Bible.

Judas is one of the most infamous disciples, if not people, in all of history. He is known as the disciple who betrayed Jesus. How did Judas, who walked, talked and fellowshipped with Jesus every day, turn into the world’s symbol of a cheating, betraying scoundrel?

When Judas began following Jesus as a disciple, he anticipated that, as the promised Messiah, Jesus would overthrow the Romans and establish God’s kingdom on earth. He jumped into following Christ wholeheartedly as visions of power and prestige danced through his head.

As Judas followed Jesus, he slowly began to see things weren’t going as he expected. At first, Jesus was the man! He threw everyone out of the temple for desecrating it. OK … first He fights the Jewish system, next will be the Romans. Jesus gathered huge multitudes of followers and they knew Judas was one of Jesus’ top guys. However, things started falling apart.

Jesus started teaching some odd lessons about dying and being raised from the dead. Because of this, most of His followers left Him. Then word came that the Pharisees wanted to kill Him. Instead of going and fighting them, Jesus ran away to another part of Israel.

Judas was stunned! He wanted Jesus to start a new kingdom and give him power. Meanwhile, all Jesus did was hang out with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus even took the side of one of these low-lifes and rebuked Judas in front of everyone. Judas became disappointed with Jesus. Over time, this disappointment turned into anger, anger turned into hate and hate turned into betrayal. Judas looked to Jesus for what Jesus could do for him, never realizing Jesus wanted Judas to see what He could do through him. As a result, Judas became unusable to God.

You may be saying to yourself, “Great. I have no hope of being used by God because I, like Judas, can’t believe God allowed my life to become like this.”

My answer is no. I am not saying that. I am saying if you turn from God while feeling this way, then you will be unusable. However, if you run toward God during this time, then you will be an unstoppable force in His kingdom.

For example, look at the life of David. At a young age, David was anointed king of Israel. His future seemed clearly set before him. However, within five years, David was living in a wilderness cave, running for his life and cut off from his friends and family. The only companions he had were the outcast thieves and scum of Israel.

This is not the way David imagined his life going, and there were times when he was disappointed with God. The Psalms are full of David’s raw emotions during this time. Many times he questioned how God could do this to him. However, unlike Judas, David ran toward God, not away from Him.

David voiced his concerns to God. He sought God’s wisdom and guidance. He allowed God to minister to his broken heart over how his life turned out. Instead of letting anger and hate into his heart, David ran to God for help. David grew into a deeper relationship with God, and years later, God brought him out of the wilderness and into His calling for David.

As we go through times of disappointment, disbelief and questioning “How could God do this to my life?” we have two clear paths before us: We can dwell in our anger and bitterness and run away from God like Judas did, or we can run toward God and allow Him to do what He is trying to do through these circumstances.

We can stay focused on what God isn’t doing for us, or we can follow David’s example and seek what God can do through us. One path leads to isolation from God and makes us totally unusable. The other path leads us closer to God and makes us completely usable for His kingdom. I am choosing the latter during my tough time, but your choice is up to you. I hope you make the same decision.

Jamie Holden is the facilitator of and teacher at Harrisburg First Assembly of God Berean Study Center in Harrisburg, Pa. He is the leader of Jamie J. Holden Ministries.

For the original article, visit .

A recent Reuters report about the Obama administration’s concern for spreading anti-Semitism is, on the face of it, a good thing. Secretary of State John Kerry has named an envoy, Ira Forman, to “monitor and combat anti-Semitism as a new State Department report warned about incidents in Venezuela, Egypt and Iran.”

This multi-faith gathering serves to mainstream terrorists, such as those funded by the Saudis and the Muslim Brotherhood.

It should be obvious that much of the anti-Semitic activity comes from Communist countries and Islamic countries. As Christian activist Raymond Ibrahim noted in his new book, Crucified Again, persecution of religious groups is ubiquitous in Islamic regimes and waxes and wanes depending on the strength of moral response from primarily Western nations.

Which brings us to the problem with the administration’s special envoy.

It is precisely because the Obama White House has taken an appeasement stance with jihadists that we see a rise in violence globally. As Oliver North said this week on Fox News, the administration is “ignoring reality” when it comes to the fight against terror. Indeed:

• The 2009 Fort Hood murders are classified as “workplace violence.”
• Administration officials are loath to acknowledge Islam’s jihad agenda.
• Muslim Brotherhood links are welcome at the White House.
• Seemingly political considerations caused administration officials to blame the deadly Benghazi attacks on a video.

Such fleeing from reality makes the naming of a special envoy to monitor anti-Semitism ineffective, at best. In fact, if one didn’t know better (wink, wink), one would conclude that Obama is aiding the Muslim Brotherhood cause. In a presentation I heard recently, Frank Gaffney used a chilling graphic:

Policy Alignment With the Muslim Brotherhood’s Agenda

• 2009: President Obama apologizes for U.S. policy in “Muslim outreach” speech in Cairo, insists Brotherhood representatives be in the audience.
• 2010: Obama administration officials begin formally “engaging” with Brotherhood officials.
• 2011: President Obama calls for resignation of Hosni Mubarak.
• 2011: DNI Clapper describes Brotherhood as “largely secular.”
• 2011: U.S. trains Muslim Brotherhood operatives on how to win elections.
• 2011: Obama demands Israel return to “1967 borders.”
• 2012: U.S. transfers $1.5 billion to Egyptian government.
• 2012: Morsi wins, announces he will seek to impose Shariah.
• 2012: U.S. announces sale of fighters, tanks to Egypt.
• 2013: Secretary of State Kerry gives Egypt $250 million more.

All this begs the question: What does John Kerry and his boss hope to achieve by naming a special envoy to monitor anti-Semitism, when they are also directly enabling the most anti-Semitic, violent movement in the world?

Jim Fletcher is a writer, researcher and pro-Israel activist. His work has appeared in the Jerusalem Post, WND, Beliefnet, OneNewsNow, and RaptureReady (weekly “Israel Watch”). Jim spent 15 years in the book publishing industry and now serves as managing editor of the Balfour Post.

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