In Touch Quarter 3 - 2016

3 rd Quarter 2016 • No 188 Christian Friends of Israel UK
Instead of the brier shall
come up the myrtle tree
Isaiah 55:13
INSIDE
ISRAEL TOUR MEETS ARAMEAN CHURCH
HEBRAIC STUDY - KNOWING THE HEART OF THE FATHER
A HEART FOR A GENERATION
REPRESENTATIVE PROFILE - NORTH WALES, SOUTH WEST MIDLANDS
HEBREW WORD STUDY - CHOOSE THANKSGIVING
EVENTS & RESOURCES
Education • Advocacy • Aid

Put into Practice
About us
CFI-UK seeks to bless Israel by
means of practical and moral
support, and to serve the Church in
teaching about God’s purposes for
Israel and the Hebraic heritage
of our faith.
CFI also produces a monthly Prayer
Letter, an audio Middle East News
Report and distributes the Haverim
Hebraic teaching CDs.
Please send for full details of
projects in Israel and also of the
many teaching resources available.
As an educational charity,
we carry a variety of
resources relevant to our
purpose. We do not
necessarily endorse every
view expressed by our
guest writers or authors
of these resources.
Published by:
CFI Charitable Trust
PO Box 2687
Eastbourne
BN22 7LZ
Tel: 01323 410810
Fax: 01323 410211
Email: info@cfi.org.uk
Websites: www.cfi.org.uk
www.keshercourse.org.uk
facebook.com/cfiuk
twitter.com/cfi_uk
Registered Charity
No. 1101899
Registered Office c/o
Caladine, Chantry House
22 Upperton Road
Eastbourne, BN21 1BF
Company No: 0498515
VAT Registration No: GB678780275
Front Cover Image:
The Myrtle Tree
Jacob Vince
I
ended my last editorial with the words, “As is always the case with
Scripture, we must be doers as well as hearers, (James 2:22) thinking on
these things and putting them into practice (Philippians 4:9)”. This is
always the challenge. So how do we do this?
Well, first as we meditate on the
Scriptures, seeking to handle them
accurately, (2 Timothy 2:15) we become
convinced of their consistency, including
that concerning God’s covenant
faithfulness to Israel and in turn his
Church. As Jesus himself states, ‘the
Scriptures cannot be broken’ (John 10:35).
Then, the Holy Spirit who inspired
them, having led the apostles into all
truth (John 16:13) and the whole counsel
of God (Acts 20:27), can use them as a
whole to transform our lives in line with
this greater clarity of understanding,
thereby enabling us to reflect God’s glory
in Christ Jesus more clearly to a needy
world (2 Corinthians 3:18).
If we are to more clearly
and faithfully reflect Jesus
as revealed in the whole of
Scripture, then we need to
do so both in his distinctive
person of Jewish ethnicity
as ‘the son of David’ and,
‘the son of Abraham’
(Matthew 1:1) alongside his
universal appeal as the last
Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45)
and first born from the
dead (Revelation 1:5).
The link between Jesus’ ethnic identity
and his resurrection is found numerous
times in the Gospels and letters, but
one particular which I find helpful is
located in Paul’s second letter to Timothy
with the phrase, ‘Remember Jesus Christ,
raised from the dead, descended from David.
This is my gospel’ (2 Timothy 2:8). Here
Paul juxtapositions (puts side by side)
Jesus’ resurrection, ‘raised from the dead’
and Jesus’ Jewish identity as ‘descended
from David’, which includes of course
his kingly identity, specifically in the
context of the ‘Gospel’. In other words,
Paul clearly shows the importance of
the combination of these two elements,
ethnicity and resurrection, together
in his proclamation of the ‘Gospel’.
Jesus Christ
raised from the
dead, descended
from David
(2 Timothy 2:8)
Paul didn’t separate them, even when
communicating largely to Gentiles, and
neither should we. For some there is
the temptation when ministering to, say,
Arab gentile people and indeed Western
gentile people, to minimise Jesus’
ethnicity and avoid the biblical term
Israel. However, if we are to be faithful to
the biblical record then surely doing so is
untenable and, arguably, deceptive.
Notwithstanding Paul’s calling to the
Gentiles (Acts 9:15; Romans 11:13), as
concerning the Jewish people (Romans
10:1), Paul expresses his anguish that his
fellow countrymen come to faith in Jesus
as their Messiah. ‘I speak the truth in Christ,
I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in
the Holy Spirit – I have great
sorrow and unceasing anguish
in my heart. For I could wish
that I myself were cursed and
cut off from Christ for the sake
of my brothers, those of my
own race, the people of Israel’
(Romans 9:1-3). If Paul felt
such anguish concerning
his own ethnic people, then
surely such words place
an even greater responsibility on us as
Gentile believers in Jesus as the Jewish
Messiah and our saviour, to live this
this out (Romans 11:14), sadly something
which the predominantly gentile Church
through the centuries has, with a few
exceptions, failed to do.
I for one am immensely grateful to
the apostle Paul for following his calling
to preach to and teach the Gentiles, of
whom I am one (as far as I am aware),
along with the majority in the church
of today. In response, may we now
return our gratitude through practising
Christian friendship toward Israel and
the wider Jewish community and in so
doing better reflect, to the wider world,
Jesus, ‘raised from the dead, descended from
David’ (2 Timothy 2:8).
2 IN TOUCH • 3 rd Quarter 2016
www.cfi.org.uk

Israel Tour 2016
Meets with Arameans
During the recent CFI Land and Life
tour of Israel we met with Shadi
Khaloul, director of the Aramaic
Israeli Christian Association near Safed.
Apart from his movingly teaching the
group the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic, we
heard of their desire to register more
Israeli Christians as Aramaic Christians
rather than as Arab or Palestinian – a
classification recently granted by the
Knesset with enthusiastic support from
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
with whom Shadi works closely. For
new-borns this is automatic but changing
your designation on an existing passport
requires a legal process. Many are keen to
reregister and it is important to increase
this number to be more representative of
the estimated 130,000 who are eligible,
but the cost is prohibitive.
The following is a request from this
important group of Christians, supportive
of Israel, whose goal is to advance
freedom of religion, human rights, and
civil justice – grateful for the freedom
Israel brings – doing this through public
advocacy in governmental, academic and
mainstream media forums, as well as in
the courts of Israel and the Knesset.
Civil Rights for Aramean Christians
We invite you to partner with us as we
launch a new litigation effort that will
impact over 5,000 Aramean Christian
families each year. For the first time this
year, the Ministry of Interior in Israel is
recognising Aramean Christians as a new
minority ethnic group.
Together in 2016, we wish to register up
to 100 families each year and strengthen
the fabric of Christian society for Israel
inside the country, bringing them back
to their original common Aramaic roots
as our Lord Jesus and the Jewish people
spoke 2,000 years ago.
This recognition is significant in many
ways:
• As a registered new minority,
Aramean Christians, who are often
mistakenly considered Arab both by
Jews and Palestinians, will be able
to preserve their original Aramaic
ethnicity as descendents of early
Christians in the holy land of Israel.
• Provision of state funding for their
Christian education.
• Recognition inside the Israeli
government as an important
minority group with unique needs to
be preserved.
• Cultural and historical preservation
as a people group whose roots date
back at least 2,000 years.
• Help greater understanding and
coexistence between Israel/Jewish
and Christian community.
ICAA, with the help of lawyers, are
offering legal services to assist these
families access their civil rights.
The Plan Proposal
Today each Christian who desires to
change their status from Arab to Aramean
needs to meet certain requirements:
1. Adults need to bring a Certificate from
the Israeli Court. This requires:
a. The services of a lawyer
b. Funds to pay court fees and lawyer
fees
c. Translation into Hebrew of a
certificate of baptism from the
original church and other related
documents
2. New-borns are registered automatically
by declaration of the parents.
ICAA is planning to recruit 2–5 Christian
Aramaic Arabic-speaking lawyers to help
the people in their communities. All cases
will be filed through ICAA and ICAA will
assist with the court and lawyer fees.
To partner with ICCA in this vital
cause to bring justice and opportunity
to the Aramean Christians in Israel! For
more details please use accompanying
response form.
www.aramaic-center.com
The Tour group in the Aramaic church
facebook.com/cfiuk twitter.com/cfi_uk 3 rd Quarter 2016 • IN TOUCH 3

HEBREW WORD STUDY
Melissa Briggs MA,
Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, has been
teaching Hebrew in
the UK for more than
five years.
Todah
Recently I noticed that my young children tend to have
little appreciation or awareness for the countless blessings
and provisions in their lives. Instead, they are often caught
grumbling for something different or more. Anyone who
has ever watched a beloved two-year-old erupt in a tantrum
when she is not allowed two desserts can probably relate.
How can she not see she is tremendously blessed to already
have more than enough food and that the additional dessert
would not be good for her?
Parenting provides plenty of stark pictures of our own
human nature, as well as a taste of how our Heavenly Father
must feel about us. Burdened by my childrens’ lack of
appreciation, I asked the Lord how to go about teaching my
children to be thankful for what they have. In response, a
rush of conviction came over me.
I felt him gently reply to me, “Do you appreciate me?”
Suddenly, I realised rarely do I stop to take stock of my
own blessings and give God the acknowledgment and praise
he is due. I could see myself in how my children sometimes
behave. It was a loving nudge from the Lord to first ask him
how to be more thankful myself! We can only teach others
what we already model ourselves.
In Hebrew, the concept of ‘thanksgiving’
is synonymous with the words for praise,
acknowledge and confess.
Thankfulness acknowledges the cost of what
someone else has done for us, confesses truth, and praises
them. Thankfulness is a deep attitude of the heart, not just
an empty formality.
Todah is this Hebrew word for ‘thanksgiving’. If ‏ּתֹודָ‏ ה
you have ever been to Israel, this is a word you would have
heard constantly in modern Hebrew. It serves an important
purpose to thank bus drivers and bank clerks. We use it to
thank strangers who hold the door open. But this ‘ordinary’
word can easily lose the power of its biblical meaning in our
frequent and casual modern usage of the word. In contrast
to the true biblical todah, so often today, saying thank you is
a low-cost, low-profile obligation.
comes from a root yadah - which is most יָ‏ Todah דָ‏ ה
often translated as ‘give thanks’, ‘praise’, ‘confess’, or
‘acknowledge.’
Todah was closely tied to Temple worship -- the ‘sacrifice
of praise.’ In this optional ceremony, the worshiper would
choose to bring a sacrifice to be placed on the altar, to be
cooked for a communal meal, as one of the freewill peace
offerings (Leviticus 7). At the altar, the worshiper would
publicly proclaim the reason for their todah, to bring glory to
God and encouragement to others. Because God had done
something for the worshiper, others would have the benefit
of sharing in the meal. This was an especially huge blessing
for the poor and the priests who partly depended on the
Choose Thanksgiving
We are trained as children to say “thank you” at all the polite junctures, but do we really possess true
thankfulness? Do empty words and mere social niceties mask an ungrateful heart?
Enough
for us
‏ּתֹודָ‏ ה
praise of the people for their food (2 Chronicles 30:22).
The writer of the letter known as Hebrews recalls
the generosity associated with the todah offering, as it
encourages believers to ‘offer the sacrifice of praise, the fruit
of our lips, and not to forget to share with those who have needs’
(Hebrews 13:15-16). It is our heart’s overflowing with
thankfulness that should spur us to cheerfully share with
others and to give back to God out of what he has given us.
‘Willingly I will sacrifice to you; I will give todah to your name,
O LORD, for it is good’ (Psalm 54:6).
During the Passover seder, the Jewish People sing a song
called ‘Dayenu,’ which translates as ‘Enough for us’. It is a
song of thankfulness, praising God for fifteen great gifts and
provisions he bestowed upon them. The essence of the song
is if God had only done one thing for them, it would have
been enough; but he heaped blessings one after the other!
This embodies biblical todah so well. It is professing to God
and to others the abundantly good things he has done.
Could you write out your own personal version of the
‘Dayenu’ song? Could you list the generous provisions
God has made for you, to fill even more than 15 stanzas?
Of course, sometimes there are legitimate needs
or powerful ‘wants’ that we petition the Lord to
provide; but nevertheless, we always have plenty
to thank God for today.
I’m sure a thankful heart is a crucial element of
what Paul was talking about when he said he had found the
secret to contentment (Philippians 4).
Who doesn’t enjoy being around thankful people?
Thankfulness is contagious and powerful. It can diffuse
interpersonal conflicts. Try thanking your spouse or
colleague for what they have done well next time you catch
yourself about to critique them. God is not the only one who
delights in being appreciated!
In Hebraic thought, a person’s name is wrapped up with
his essential character and even his destiny. With this in
mind, how fascinating the name ה Judah‏)יְהּודָ‏ - pronounced
in Hebrew as yehudah), from which the English word Jew is
derived, literally means ‘may he be praised/thanked’ and
comes from this same root system of words! The Jewish
people are destined to give praise and thanks to their King.
Are you wondering what God’s will is for your life? Paul
gives a great starting place: ‘In everything give thanks; for this
is the will of God in Jesus the Messiah for you’ (I Thessalonians
5:16-18).
What would it take for us to realise God’s goodness and
generosity in our lives? A famous pop song says, ‘You don’t
know what you got ‘til it’s gone,’ but does it have to be that
way? What would happen if we asked the Lord to give
us fresh eyes to see his hand of provision and step out in
obedience and todah?
4 IN TOUCH • 3 rd Quarter 2016
www.cfi.org.uk

Julia Soakell
A heart for a
generation
– Hawick
Our representative for the Borders, Philip
Aitchison, was delighted to host the
prayer conference in his own church,
Abundant Life, on the 18 th June. He writes:
“It was a great day and lived up to all my expectations
...we always want more folks there but we would like to do
such events twice a year in the Borders.” The day began
at 10 o’clock with fellowship, praise and thanksgiving
for the answers to prayer we have already seen, and
a time to meditate on the goodness of God, before we
entered into the main business of the day ... prayer ...
so vital in our times.
Using information boards and specific focuses
for prayer, the day covered the generation between
15-35 in the UK and in Israel and in the Palestinian
youth too ... all of whom need wrapping in prayer as
they continue in education, become journalists and
politicians and parents and pastors, prime ministers
and teachers and theologians. Particularly, we prayed
for the youth within our UK church and outside of it,
and how Israel and Hebraic teaching is viewed and
taught in churches today.
Great comments came from participants who felt
it was “really helpful in knowing how to pray for CFI
and Israel, and also praying in small groups” and others
who said, “brilliant and important day”. So many were
encouraged and better informed and now we look to
the Lord with great expectation for answers to prayer
and greater support and understanding of how Israel
fits in God’s end days and how CFI’s mandate to
teach the church and bless Israel embodies what is on
the Lord’s heart.
Comments from participants:
After much preparation and prayer it’s good to give testimony to
the Lord’s faithfulness, provision and blessings. This is a selection
of the words and feedback given on Saturday during the event:
Israel my Beloved I will never leave you nor forsake you. You are
my chosen one in whom I delight – the Guardian of Israel neither
slumbers nor sleeps.
Great information about Israel given and the focus on the Lord at
start too, it was encouraging.
Really helpful in knowing how to pray for CFI and Israel. I
enjoyed standing in prayer together with others as well as in
smaller groups. Good to have focus of information in each session.
Great day, thought the interactive boards worked really well.
People don’t know where they fit, but as they pray they will know.
The day was perfect because there was variety – we got to praise –
we got to look at Gods word. But the focus was PRAYER – enough
information and a variety of subjects and a freedom in the groups.
It was an appointed time for many there, both Christians who have
stood with Israel and CFI for decades and first timers – and in praying
for the generation that the Lord had clearly shown me, in the UK, in
Israel and in the Palestinian areas, we also honour the generation of
older supporters who have prayed the younger ones into this time to also
“stand in the gap”.
Please know that supporting staff, office staff, trustees and senior staff
and volunteers alike, UK and Jerusalem and the nations were prayed for;
your churches, families and marriages too. Be encouraged. The Lord laid
on my heart in January to pray for a “wave of intercession in the UK
like never before”. The army is out there, readying itself, getting better
informed and making connections with us as a ministry and they love
us and will “cover us”. Ultimately our “covering” is in God – “hidden in
Christ” – safe and under the shadow of his love and protection. Bless you
for your prayers and love for this event, which I know some of you knew
was very strategic for me, but also for the ministry.
facebook.com/cfiuk twitter.com/cfi_uk 3 rd Quarter 2016 • IN TOUCH 5

Introducing...
Have you ever heard of ALEH?
ALEH is Israel’s largest
network of care for children
with severe multiple disabilities. Over
700 children with intellectual and
developmental disabilities and medical
conditions receive state-of-the-art
medical, educational and rehabilitative
care in ALEH’s four residential
facilities. In addition, ALEH provides
some 18,000 outpatient treatments
annually. Without ALEH, many of
these children would be forced to
spend their lives in hospitals, with
no opportunities for rehabilitation,
education, and the love and warmth of
a home. This steadfast commitment
has changed the face of rehabilitative
care in Israel.
ALEH aim to look beyond the disability
to the child within. They believe that
every child, regardless of the severity of
the physical or cognitive disability, has the
right to benefit from the best available
care in order to reach his or her fullest
potential. They hope to attain this by
nurturing development and enriching the
quality of life of each child.
Thanks to ALEH, these children are able
to live in much the same way as children
who are not disabled: attending school,
participating in vocational programs and
enjoying activities such as swimming at
the beach or touring the countryside. In
its efforts to change common attitudes
and create a more caring and inclusive
society in Israel, ALEH has developed
numerous programs involving families,
schoolchildren, university students, the
IDF, and hundreds of volunteers both in
Israel and abroad.
Volunteering
To be able to provide our children with
the best possible care we can use of any
extra hands and hearts, regardless of
your professional background. The Israeli
health system only allows for about
one caretaker to every eight children.
However, ALEH believes we can only
give the care and attention these severely
handicapped children need with a ratio of
one helper for every two or three children.
Although volunteers cannot take the place
of a qualified carer, volunteers can give a
lot of additional attention to the children.
ALEH started working with overseas
volunteers two years ago and would
really like to expand this involvement. If
you are between 18 and 65, and able to
commit yourself to a month or more, you
can volunteer hands-on here in Israel and
really get to know and love our children.
More information and details of how to
apply as a volunteer can be found at the
website: www.aleh.org.
“This was an extremely significant
year for me, a special, amazing and
extraordinary experience!”
Giving
Another way of assisting ALEH is
through financial resources. Hundreds
of children rely on their assistance – 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a
year – to provide them with outstanding
care in a warm environment. Small
contributions can make a big difference
in these children’s daily lives and much
needed equipment can be bought with
such support.
The picture shows an example of
specialised equipment needed to provide
our children with the quality of life and
inclusive opportunities they deserve.
The body corset is one of the most
effective strategies for the treatment
and management of the severe scoliosis
which sadly plagues many residents. The
corset helps maintain the straightest
back position possible, and also prevents
further deterioration of the condition.
Use of the body corset for ALEH’s
children has shown dramatic results in
improvement of attention/concentration,
facilitation of eating, enhanced relaxation,
and increased functionality. There are
currently 23 children who wear the body
corset support on a daily basis.
Prayer
Last but not least, you can join ALEH in
prayer. They see that God has entrusted
us with these precious ones. Please stand
with them that they can indeed give the
Branches:
ALEH Bnei Brak
ALEH Moriah-Gedera
ALEH Jerusalem
ALEH Negev–Nahalat Eran
www.aleh.org
6 IN TOUCH • 3 rd Quarter 2016 www.cfi.org.uk

ONLINE BOUTIQUE
best care to enable those in their care
to live life to the fullest. That they may
touch many hearts and help us “healthy”
people to see him more and more in the
right perspective.
Testimony
As a 19 year old volunteer, it all began
for me with a tour to get acquainted with
the staff and residents. This was the first
time that I was actually in close contact
with people with special needs. During
that first tour I was filled with mixed
feelings and hesitations…How will the
staff and residents accept me? How will
I react to them? How will I cope? How
long will I be able to last it out? Will I be
good enough to get a resident to smile? I
decided to put my worries aside and let
my heart and feeling of mission guide me.
From that very first day, every morning
I was greeted with open hands and a warm
smile by the staff and residents of the
High-Dependency Ward. In a strange yet
natural way, I found myself an inseparable
part of ALEH and its daily schedule,
which included showering, playing with
the infants, caregiving responsibilities,
feeding the residents and more.
Every day I was moved anew upon
hearing the voices of the residents, the
new words they had learned, and their
“Good morning” greetings. Every day
I felt my heart surge with joy when the
residents expressed their pleasure and
excitement at seeing me.
The year was challenging yet extremely
satisfying. It helped me develop and it
taught me so much. I matured. I gave
up my teenage status and stepped into the
role of ‘parent’ – the responsible carer.
I learned to believe in myself, to
be happy with my lot, and most
importantly, to be grateful for what I
have! I understood that everything else
is a bonus…my outlook on life received
completely new proportions! I learned
what’s really important.
I was amazed to see the dedication, love
and warmth of the staff. I asked myself
numerous times, “From where do they get
the strength and the ability to give? From
where do they draw endless energy?”
During this year, I learned to understand
the tremendous significance of a small
smile, a movement of the eye, a motion
of the hand. I learned to recognise the
amazing strengths of the residents of
ALEH, despite their severe disabilities.
I understood that they are the ones who
motivate us and bring forth our strength
and the desire to continue to give. I
learned in a deep way that when you give,
you receive so much more in return!
For me, this year was so special. It
passed by so quickly, like the hands on the
clock, and will always leave me wishing
for a little more time. It is difficult to
describe and summarise all of this in just
a few words. I highly recommend that
everyone come to visit ALEH, and I am
certain that without even realising it, you
will fall in love with the residents and the
place just like I did.
For an opportunity to give towards
this work, please use the acompanying
response form, thank you.
ALEH’s goal is to
give our residents a
real quality of life
based on the values
of dignity, dedication,
commitment,
professionalism and
partnership
facebook.com/cfiuk twitter.com/cfi_uk 3 rd Quarter 2016 • IN TOUCH 7

James Whitman
serves as president
of The Centre for
Judaic-Christian
Studies (JC Studies)
Behind this honest inquiry is the
core issue of divine immutability.
Does God change? And if he does,
how can we be sure he won’t change
again? The clues are in God’s Word,
and he desires to make himself known
more intimately and actively in your
life through study as an act of worship.
In this article, I want us to behold
the consistent character of our great
Creator across the Testaments* while
providing some practical suggestions
that can help us read and teach the
Bible for all it’s worth!
Jesus of Nazareth is where we
begin our study because the God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob commands
it, “This is my Son, my Chosen One;
listen to him!” (Luke 9:35). We must not
underestimate the importance of this
first step. The picture of God that we
hold deep in the centre of our being
determines how we see ourselves and
how we act toward others. Only his
Son can provide what we hunger and
thirst to know. We come to the Son;
the Son brings us to the Father.
The Timing of the Father
“When the fullness of time had come, God
sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4:4) was
how our apostles understood Jesus’
first coming; more specifically his
life and work among us. The mindset
of Messiah Jesus—filled with the
Holy Spirit—was that of a Jewish
man in the Second Temple Period.
The Chosen One’s milieu included
the Hebrew language, Jewish faith
and practice, and the socio-political
setting of Israel during this chosen
time. His redeeming work of teaching
and healing—as well as his cross,
empty tomb, and Spirit outpouring—
arise from and make sense within
this context. The work of tuning into
these historical realities is what we call
cultivating a Hebraic perspective.
All this poses an obvious but easy to
overlook question, how did Jesus read
the Hebrew Scriptures? Again, how
did Jesus understand the character of
the Holy One of Israel, the one whom
Reading the Bible for all it’s worth! PART 2
Knowing the heart
of the Father
While walking the stone streets of Old Jerusalem, a friend asked me a question that no doubt eventually
crosses the mind of every fervent follower of Jesus. ‘How are we to reconcile’, he asked, ‘God’s
instructions to use violent force in the Hebrew Scriptures (OT) with the teaching and model of Jesus
in the Apostolic Writings’ (NT)?
he called “my Father”? (Matthew
11:27). As the Prophet that Moses told
us would come, we look to Jesus to
rightly interpret the Hebrew Scriptures
for us (Acts 3:22). And he does just
that, “Whoever has seen me has seen the
Father” (John 14:9). By way of analogy,
the Master’s portrait as presented in
the four Gospels clearly shows that
Jesus felt about the OT like we feel
about the NT; that he felt about the
Father the way we feel about the Son.
The Actions of the Son
Pressed by his critics, Jesus lays down
an extraordinary challenge, “If I am
not doing the works of my Father, then do
not believe me” (John 10:37). He goes
on to implore them to start with his
deeds and discern in them the acts
of his Father. On one hand, ancient
Whoever has
seen me has seen
the Father
Jewish literature shows that this way
of reasoning has precedent:
“What means the text, ‘Ye shall walk
after the Lord your God’ (Deuteronomy
13:4)? Is it, then, possible for a man to
walk after the Shechinah [Shekinah] of
which it is written, ‘The Lord thy God is
a devouring fire’ (Deuteronomy 4:24)? But
the meaning is to follow the attributes
of the Holy One, blessed be he: as he
clothed the naked (Genesis 3:21), so
do you clothe the naked; as he visited
the sick (Genesis 18:1), so do you visit
the sick; as he comforted mourners
(Genesis 25:11), so do you comfort
those who mourn; as he buried the
dead (Deuteronomy 34:6), so do you
bury the dead” (Babylonian Talmud,
Sotah 14a).
On the other hand, John understood
that when we watch Jesus in action, he
is doing more than imitating YHWH.
He is—with every deed—revealing
the character and intent of the God
we read about on every page of the
Hebrew Scriptures. Why? So that we
will believe and come to him in order
to live a joyous life of obedience!
The Words of the Son
“When you have lifted up the Son of Man,
then you will know that I am he and that
I do nothing on my own authority, but
speak just as the Father taught me” (John
8:28). Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, was
taught God’s Word by the very God
who spoke those words into time and
space. The Father discipled his Son!
What’s more, the Son’s words carry
the same weight as the Father’s words,
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my
words will not pass away” (Mark 13:31,
cf. Matthew 5:18).
We must continually wrestle with
the implications of this truth because
we have trouble balancing justice and
mercy; our tendency is to tilt to one
side or the other. Not so the Father.
His every word emanates from a heart
of holy love and has as its ultimate
goal, blessing. Once you recognise the
pattern of Jesus unveiling the Father,
it has a self-educating effect. But
keep this in mind, Jesus plainly states
that our ability to know the God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a work
of the Holy Spirit based on the atoning
work of his crucifixion.
There is so much more to explore,
but it’s time to wrap this up with two
practical suggestions that can help
incorporate these concepts into the
way we read and teach the Bible.
Tip 1: When you read or hear God in
the NT, think the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob—Jesus did! Here’s
an example, ‘And as for the resurrection
of the dead, have you not read what was
said to you by God: “I am the God of
Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob”? He is not God of the dead,
but of the living” (Matthew 22:31, cf.
Exodus 3:6). Titles have their place
but by necessity create distance and
separation. Personal names, however,
are meant to be a sign of nearness and
intimacy.
8 IN TOUCH • 3 rd Quarter 2016
www.cfi.org.uk

Tip 2: When you read or hear the word
Lord in the OT, think the Father of
Jesus—or as he taught us to pray, “our
Father” (Matthew 6:9). Translators use
the convention of small caps (Lord)
to convey the personal name YHWH,
by which the Father revealed himself
to our forefathers. We tend to read
Lord as a title (like Lord in the NT,
which primarily denotes someone
in authority). Practicing this tip can
help us return to the personal quality
the Father intended. Rest assured the
Father will take care of teaching us
about his holiness. As a matter of fact,
the above follows the pattern of Jesus,
who taught us to pray “Our Father”
followed by “hallowed is your Name”
(Matthew 6:9). Try reading Numbers
6:22-27 this way. Now try saying it
this way to someone you love. The
results are transformational.
The sum of the matter is this, when
Jesus says, “Whoever has seen me has
seen the Father” (John 14:9), he is not
introducing a new, improved model
of deity. Rather he is re-presenting
YHWH as he is, was, and will forever
be. Certainly, there is mystery involved
as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob is in Messiah reconciling the
world to himself. But Jesus’ statement
in context is more practical than
mystical—he is clarifying, even giving
us a principle by which to interpret
the Scriptures and discern the way
forward in our present circumstances.
The Question Answered
When we keep the Testaments
connected, we come into greater
contact with the holy character of the
One True God, who reveals himself
in covenant relationship as Father.
One way to answer the question with
which this article opened is to point
out that the text clearly shows the
violence required to take Canaan was
non-normative, specific, limited, and
temporary while serving the purpose
of purging evil and promoting
good. Once the territory promised
to Abraham was completely secured,
Israel defended itself but did not seek
to conquer other lands; a way of life
that continues to this day. But there is
more to the story.
First, let me be clear—God is not on
trial here, our faith is. We need help
getting free from our human-centric
ways of reading the text. The dialogueproducing
response that I shared with
my friend that day was this—in deeply
profound, mysterious ways beyond
searching out—the events surrounding
the children of Israel taking possession
of the Promised Land arose from
the Father’s desire to bless. Or to
sharpen the point, the cross of Jesus
is the defining principle by which we
interpret and begin to grasp every
word and deed that proceeds from
the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and
Jesus. May you have ears to hear what
the Spirit is saying concerning the
heart of the Father, “For I the Lord do
not change” (Malachi 3:6).
* See the 2 nd Quarter 2016 ‘In Touch’ for the
previous article entitled, How to Keep the
Testaments Connected.
Note: Please also see related teaching audio
‘The Face of God’ by Dwight Pryor listed in the
Resources section on page 12.
Haverim Studies – depth and variety
As we read our Bibles we encounter many
challenges. Some of them come in direct
statements from God, such as when Jesus
said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must
deny themselves and take up their cross and
follow me” (Mark 8:34). Others come in
trying to understand exactly what particular
sections of Scripture mean; such as when
Jesus said, “From the days of John the
Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has
been subjected to violence, and violent people
have been raiding it” (Matthew 11:12).
Haverim subscription
JC Studies is a Christian, educational organisation with a passion for
acclimatising Christians to the life and times of Jesus and the early church.
Are you interested in biblically based, Christ-centred instruction in the Jewish heritage of
Christianity? Consider joining our Haverim * Study Community. Founded over thirty years
ago by Dr. Dwight A. Pryor, Haverim is a subscription service that provides you with a
monthly audio recording by leading Christian scholars. Through their expertise in the
language, literature, culture and traditions of Israel during the Second Temple Period, you
will receive a treasure trove of insights into the sacred Scriptures, both Old, and New.
*Haverim is a transliteration of the plural Hebrew word for Friend. (khaverím)
Website: www.cfi.org.uk
The Haverim studies are helpful with both
types of challenge, largely by addressing
the second type. They do this by explaining
difficult passages of Scripture from the
perspective of those who lived in Israel
during the Second Temple Period, i.e. the
time when Christ came among us. Many
theologians have attempted to do this
down the centuries, but it is those who
have immersed themselves in the culture
and literature of the times who are most
effective.
Centre for Judaic-Christian Studies
For more information: Tel: 01323 410810 Fax: 01323 410211 Email: info@cfi.org.uk
Please request the Haverim subscription form
The messages vary in nature, some being
single ones like the late Dr Dwight Pryor’s
‘Renewing the Christian Mind: Paul and
the Righteousness of God’, whilst others
come in the form of short series, such as the
three latest messages by Dr Steven Notley
on the Holy Spirit in both the Old and the
New Testaments. For anyone who would like
to explore the meaning of the Scriptures in
more depth, these Haverim studies can be
extremely useful. They can be purchased on
a subscription basis, or individually.
CFI UK is the designated distributor in the UK
facebook.com/cfiuk twitter.com/cfi_uk 3 rd Quarter 2016 • IN TOUCH 9

CFI UK AREA REPRESENTATIVE PROFILES
NORTH WALES
This third quarter of 2016 ‘In
Touch’ magazine continues with
the CFI Area Representative
profile, and this time David Soakell
interviews our North Wales Area
Rep – Roy Thurley. Here in the
UK we are indebted to people like
Derek White who was the founder
of CFI UK, along with former
Directors Rod Valentine, Geoffrey
Smith and of course our present
Chief Executive – Jacob Vince. But
we also owe a great deal to the
faithfulness of our former CFI UK
Director Roy Thurley, who not only
took on the role as Director from
Derek White, but also created the
CFI Kesher Course.
Roy’s involvement with CFI actually
began even before the ministry was
formed. How can this be you may ask?
Well I’ll let Roy explain. Roy states, “Our
founder, Derek White, was an elder in
the church we attended back in the early
1980s, and when he set up what became
CFI-UK, I volunteered to help him in
whatever way I could. When the Lord
moved us to North Wales in 1988 I could
no longer assist Derek in the same way,
but joined the board of trustees instead.
Over the next twelve years I organised a
number of meetings on behalf of CFI, but
I don’t think I was ever officially a Rep
at that time. In 2000 we returned south
so that I could take over from Derek as
CFI-UK Director, and handed over local
involvement in North Wales to Peter
Appleton. Upon our return to Llandudno
seven years later, Peter handed the patch
back to me. Technically I’m retired, which
means that I am as busy as ever!”
With all this experience, you are more
than qualified in what you do now. So,
what does being an Area Rep look like for
you?
“It’s probably a bit different for me
because I’m known around the country
from the time when I was director. I
therefore speak at meetings outside my
patch as well as organise things locally.
My main emphasis is on teaching, as this
is the area where the Lord has given me
a specific gift. I have run a number of
Kesher courses in North Wales, as well
as bringing teaching in several different
congregations. We enjoy hosting visiting
speakers, as well as celebrating the
Biblical feasts.”
What would you say are the highlights
of your role?
“One annual highlight is the local
commemoration of Holocaust Memorial
Day. This is organised jointly with Sharn
Asbridge, the CFI Rep for North-East
Wales, and members of the local Jewish
community. Over the years we have heard
a number of Holocaust survivors tell
their stories before packed audiences
of more than 200 people, including
civic dignitaries and our Member of
Parliament. Sharn also gets the speaker
into local high schools, where this year
over 500 students heard him speak. It is
so important that these young people hear
first-hand what happened 70 years ago.”
For many years, I was a voluntary Area
Rep for the North East, and found many
frustrations and challenges. What are the
challenges you face?
“What frustrates me most is our
inability to reach the vast majority of the
church which has no understanding about
Israel. Almost everyone in our meetings
already has a good understanding of the
biblical, legal and historical position.
How do we go beyond that to those who
haven’t heard this? We have tried a
number of different ideas in the area, but
with limited success.”
I fully understand those frustrations.
That is why it is so important for CFI to
be involved in New Wine summer festivals
etc., however we need to pray for more
breakthroughs in regional areas with our
Area Reps.
Finally Roy, what would you say to
someone considering being an Area Rep?
“Go for it! But don’t try to copy what
I do. We are all created as unique people,
so don’t try to be a David in Saul’s
armour. What you lack can be made up
by someone else. I have experienced that
here in North Wales, where I always
get someone else to teach the Hebrew
sessions on the Kesher course!”
To contact Roy, please email him at
habeit@tiscali.co.uk
CHURCHLINK
Christian Friends of Israel in the UK needs you!
We are making good progress in developing a unique Church
Link network around the country to support the CFI vision and
to encourage people to read our literature, sign up to receive
updates and pray with us. We seek to inform the Church of
her Hebraic heritage and to continue to bless the people and
land of Israel. Age is no barrier but communication is mostly
via email. Those taking up the role can support their CFI Area
Representative to promote exciting forthcoming events and
provide access to up-to-date CFI material by distributing in
their local church, fellowship or meetings. It’s a small role but
with a big goal to increase awareness.
Please contact julia.soakell@cfi.org.uk to apply.
10 IN TOUCH • 3 rd Quarter 2016
www.cfi.org.uk

CFI would like to welcome on
board our new Area Representative
Caroline Geuter, who will be taking
on the South West Midlands
region. She lives in Worcester with
her husband Andrew and mother
Audrey.
In response to why she felt led to take on
this role of Area Rep for CFI, Caroline
wrote, “For Zion’s sake I will not keep
silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not
remain quiet, till her vindication shines
out like the dawn, her salvation like a
blazing torch’ (Isaiah 62:1) and ‘Pray for
SOUTH WEST MIDLANDS
the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who
love you be secure’ (Psalm 122:6) that
are becoming increasingly imprinted on
my heart. Indeed it is hard not to quote
vast portions of Isaiah and Zechariah,
to name but two books of the Bible, in
defence of my position!”
Caroline came to faith in Yeshua the
Messiah (Jesus Christ) in 1987 at
the age of 33 years old. She states, “I
understood the Jews to be the chosen
people of God. I have also understood
that when Israel is mentioned in the
Bible, God means ISRAEL – not the
church or so-called ‘spiritual Israel’ -
in other words, I have never believed
in replacement theology; nor has my
husband Andrew. As a new Christian
I prayed for Israel, listened to Lance
Lambert updates and David Pawson’s
teaching and did a correspondence course
with Derek Prince. However, although
never believing in replacement theology,
Israel was not Andrew’s and my main
focus as we spent several years in Albania
as missionaries, and then back in the UK
as evangelists.”
Caroline continues, “We became
concerned with charismatic excesses
and the increase in unscriptural worship
songs; indeed, the worship often taking
the place of God’s Word, and were driven
increasingly towards the reformed church.
So, for many years we have described
ourselves as reformed ‘by default’, as we
have never believed in any aspects of their
theology. I think it is being in churches
with a belief in replacement theology,
where a silence was maintained where
Israel was concerned, that the Lord has
used to re-kindle a passion for Israel in
us and a longing that believers should be
told the truth about our Hebraic roots,
the prophecies of Scripture being fulfilled
today, and modern day Israel. Day by day
we feel increasingly strongly about it.”
Almost twenty years ago, a friend of
Caroline and Andrew’s, who has done
much to help the Jewish people in the
past, gave Caroline a list of Bible verses,
which she still has, and told her he
thought the Lord was leading her to help
the Jewish people. However, at the time
the doors seemed closed, but the Lord has
re-kindled this passion to be a blessing to
Israel. Caroline states, “I am thankful
to the Lord that he has opened this door
for me to become an Area Rep with CFI.
I look forward to the blessing of seeing
people’s eyes opened as they understand
God’s heart for the Jewish people and
that God has NOT broken his covenant
and never will do.”
David
Pawson
Werner
Oder
An offering for the work of CFI UK
will be taken during the day.
Please bring a packed lunch.
Israel and the New Covenant
31 st CFI UK Annual Conference, Sat 17 th September 2016
Victoria Baptist Church, Eldon Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 1UE
Speakers: Revd David Pawson and Pastor Werner Oder
Please join us for our 31 st CFI UK Annual Conference
(preceded by CFI UK Area Representatives’ training day)
Our main guest speaker is Revd David Pawson, author of many
books including Israel in the New Testament, with an additional
session by Pastor Werner Oder, sharing his unique testimony as
the son of a Nazi war criminal, who became a friend of Israel.
The exhibition hall will include the CFI UK resource stall
and stalls of other local ministries.
We look forward to welcoming you,
please encourage your friends to attend
Free Entry
Tea & Coffee
provided
facebook.com/cfiuk twitter.com/cfi_uk 3 rd Quarter 2016 • IN TOUCH 11

Resources www.cfi.org.uk/shop
GOD AND ISRAEL Chosen People, Holy Nation, Promised Land.
Dr John Garr is founder and president of Hebraic Christian Global Community, an international,
transdenominational, multiethnic networking organisation that serves as a publishing and educational
resource to the Christian church. This book is a comprehensive theological study of the continuing
fulfillment of God’s four-thousand-year-old covenant with Abraham, the immutable and irrevocable
commitment which empowered his descendants to establish the nation of Israel and to inherit the
Promised Land centuries ago and has produced the miracle of the fully restored people, nation and land
of Israel today.
B481 // BOOK // 396 pages // £19 (incl. UK p&p)
CATCH THE JEW! Tuvia Tenenbom
Catch the Jew! recounts the adventures of Jewish journalist Tuvia Tenenbom, who wandered around Israel
and the Palestinian Authority for seven months – sometimes at grave risk to his life – in search of the untold
truths in today’s Holy Land. From the self-hating intellectuals in Tel Aviv to the self-promoting PLO execs
in Ramallah, from the black-clad Ultra Orthodox of Jerusalem to the glowing foreign human rights activists
in Nablus, Tenenbom takes on the people of the land, getting to know them and disarming them as he breaks
bread and mingles with anyone and everyone. By turns poignant, enraging, and laugh-out-loud funny, this
unprecedented, eye-opening book lays bare the intensity of a turbulent land, person by person, city by city, and
meal by meal. You will never look at Israel the same way again.
B479 // BOOK // 467 pages // £20 (incl. UK p&p)
ISIS, IRAN and ISRAEL Chris Mitchell (Middle East Bureau Chief, CBN News)
Some call current conditions in the Middle East, a ‘Perfect storm’. Others know the region is undergoing
historic changes. ISIS, Iran and Israel answers the questions that affect the world and your life.
• How ISIS terror is spreading to the West, • How the Sunni / Shiite divide may lead to a regional war, • How
Russia’s military poses a threat to Israel and echoes Ezekiel 38 and 39, • How revival is spreading to the most
unlikely places in the region, • Why some believe the Iranian nuclear deal could lead to another nuclear era.
“Chris Mitchell writes in his latest book that The Light of the World still shines his hope into the darkest of
places. This book is a must read!” Janet Parshall, talk show host.
B480 // BOOK // 235 pages // £13.50 (incl. UK p&p)
THE FACE OF GOD Dr Dwight Pryor
In this 2-part series, Dwight Pryor turns our attention to a powerful portrayal of the Shekinah, or Presence of
God, and his passionate desire to dwell with and in the midst of his people. The LORD brought the children of
Israel out of Egypt so he could pitch his tent in the midst of theirs. He desired to dwell with them, to be their
God, and they his people. Yahweh is far more than a Law-giver – he is a lover and earnestly seeks his beloved.
He draws near to us and desires that we draw near to him!
Disc 1: The Face Of God
Disc 2: Seeking The Face Of God
The late Dr. Dwight Pryor was founder and president of the Centre for Judaic-Christian Studies. As an
internationally respected Bible teacher and lecturer, he was associated for more than 25 years with Christian
and Jewish scholars in Israel researching the Hebraic backgrounds to the life and teachings of Jesus of
Nazareth, the Jewish Messiah.
CDS077 // 2CDs // 140 mins // £9.50 (incl. UK p&p)
MAGNA CARTA UNLOCKED Making of the modern world
Drawing on the British, Judeo-Christian heritage this series includes actors such as Peter Warnock, Russell
Wootton, Ian Cullen and Peter Hutchinson. Presented by Philip Quenby.
The Magna Carta, widely regarded as a foundational text of the British Constitution and an essential
guarantor of basic freedoms, has inspired imitators across ages and across continents.
To what extent is it right to see the Great Charter as a fount of freedom, democracy and rule of law, and how
relevant is it today? Examining politics, science, society, law and welfare, this series shows how Magna Carta
has helped shape the modern world.
D136 // 2DVDs // 250 mins // £14 (incl. UK p&p)