Category: Blog

We have received a steady stream of criticism for our initiative to support Israel and the persecuted church. Some comments state a simple three-letter comment in our posts to support Aliyah. “BDS.” (B.D.S. means to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel.) Some, on the other hand, have taken much time and many words to oppose our efforts as we endeavor to show and share the love of Jesus through providing humanitarian aid to others around the world that are in danger of their lives and livelihood because they have chosen to live the truth that Jesus IS the Way, the Truth, and The Life.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18)

Haters gonna hate. Water off the back. (Duck!) Right? John writes in his epistle, quoting Jesus, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18) So, we consider it a joy when we face opposition. However, in this blog, we want to give an answer to our critics.

Our Statement of Faith can be found on our website at https://blessingbroker2.belliodigital.com/statement-of-faith/ We believe the Bible from Genesis through Revelation. We believe that God has given His gift(s) and calling to all. And to those who believe and obey… do we not have the responsibility and the aid of His Spirit to walk according to the calling He has placed? (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Here are just a few of our points in our Statement of Faith:

• We believe Israel was to be punished if God’s laws for the nation were disregarded (Deuteronomy 28:15- 68; Isaiah 42:24; Amos 3:2).
• We believe that the New Covenant was made with Israel (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-12) which meant Israel was to become Christian and that Jesus confirmed that Covenant (Galatians 3:16-17; Romans 15:8).
• We believe that Israel was promised redemption (Psalm 130:7-8; Isaiah 52:3; Hosea 13:9-14); that Jesus Christ came to Israel (Matthew 10:6); that He was recognized as the Redeemer of Israel (Galatians 4:5; Titus 2:14), and His death and resurrection accomplished that redemption (Galatians 4:4-5; Hebrews 9:12).

 

 

Embedded within our Statement of Faith is the tenant that Israel is to enter the New Covenant with HaShem (The Name of God) and accept the free, but the most costly gift of His Son, Yeshua. This comes through sharing the Good News of Messiah’s life, teaching, death, burial, AND resurrection from the dead.

We cannot deny this call.

Evangelism, proselytizing, obedience to the Great Commission is in our spiritual DNA. And the world hates it. However, we choose to show the world that we are Christians by our love. What doe that mean? We’re SO glad you asked…

• We won’t bible thump.
• We won’t preach with disrespect.
• We won’t seek conversion. But will always encourage completion in Christ.
• We won’t fight hatred with hatred.
• We won’t argue with fools.
• We won’t win friends and influence people by abandoning our calling.

 

• We will continue to seek the Lord and where He is moving.
• We will follow Yeshua and seek unity with those who do the same.
• We will do our best to love our neighbor without an agenda.
• We will pray for opportunities to share the reason for our hope.

 

• We will continue to “broker” blessings to make the largest kingdom impact possible!

At Blessing Broker, we study God’s Word and work out of our faith with reverence of our Lord. We encourage all Partners to do the same so long as it lines up with His Word.

In summary, In today’s world, we need to be vigilant for those who would sow seeds of doubt concerning what God’s Word actually says, and is calling us to do. There is nothing wrong with honest disagreement, this does not entitle one to spread libel and hatred. Acts 17 provides an example of an honest disagreement when Paul disputed with other Apostles in Jerusalem whether circumcision was necessary for salvation. Galatians 2 offers a second witness to the fact that although there was honest disagreement at the beginning of this meeting there was still fellowship at the end. It may also be surprising to note that this disagreement occurred perhaps 16 years after Yeshua’s resurrection. And note that all the problems arose because “certain men from Judea” wanted to stir up discord among Christians by spreading the lie that unless Gentiles were circumcised like them, they could not have salvation. In other words, they denied salvation through Yeshua alone. The Lord hates those who sow discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives us good advice in II Timothy 2:15-16 when he says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. But shun profane and vain babblings for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” Let us never be afraid to study together in Christian fellowship in a positive way with an earnest heartfelt desire to uncover the Truth of God’s Word. Our Heavenly Father has chosen not to give us all Truth and Knowledge on a silver platter. He expects us to study His Word and search out what is true (Proverbs 25:2). Paul also tells us the Bereans set a good example for all Christians as “they received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so”. (Acts 17:11)

At Blessing Broker, we study God’s Word and work out of our faith with reverence of our Lord. We encourage all Partners to do the same so long as it lines up with His Word.

So, to those who desire to join in being the blessing, we welcome you. If you disagree with us, that is quite alright. All we ask is that you be honest in disagreement and careful to document your beliefs. We’ll always respect honest disagreement.

A Message from the Lord

Have you ever had a message given to you that you knew, without a doubt, was from the Lord? And then it was repeated?

Operation Exodus was written by Gustav Scheller. It was handed to me by a woman who said at our first meeting, “The Lord told me to give you this book.” Unique words I’d never been told before. It got my attention with a strong sense of curiosity and a little bit of uncertainty. That is until I traveled down the road to have her words confirmed by a stranger. Mr. Kubal saw the book laying near my backpack and said, “I know the author of that book of yours, and I know the President of the organization that has succeeded him. Would you like me to introduce you?”

Debra Minotti led the Buffalo, New York headquarters of Operation Exodus, USA. Dave Kubal introduced me to Debra and, long story short, Blessing Broker’s first project was with her amazing organization to aid two families in their move from the U.S. to Israel from the generous support of friends like you.

Operation Last Exodus

Years later, and recently, a gentleman sat behind Denise and me at a Bible conference in Huntington Beach, California. He gave me a book he wrote entitled Operation Last Exodus. Robb Schwartz published his 544-page novel in 2012 and is working on its sequel. I’m well into this thriller about the Lord’s final call to His people for a return (a.k.a. “Aliyah”) to Israel according to His promise and end-time plan. It’s a stellar book written by a brilliant, highly educated, well-accomplished, yet humble servant of God.

Robb has been gracious enough to ask for my thoughts as I read his intriguing work. It is a hair-raising, well-researched, tale of race wars, spiritual battles, political and social dilemmas which make the Holocaust pale in comparison to what the Bible tells us is on the near horizon.

I have since been moved to the understanding that there is great hatred and growing violence toward the people of God and that it must happen to force His people to return to Him and to the land where He placed His Name.

As I’m reading his book, I’m reminded of my visit with my friend, Marty in Pittsburgh, PA at the end of October 2018. On the 27th, at the Tree of Life Congregation along with the New Light Congregation and Congregation Dor Hadash, a brutal attack happened against worshippers in the building during Shabbat morning services. The terrorist shot seventeen, killing eleven and wounding six others.

A few days after the slaughter, Marty and I walked around the synagogue praying, pleading, asking the LORD for comfort and for a right perspective against hatred and anti-Semitism. We talked with friends and family members of the congregation. We cried.

I have since been moved to the understanding that there is great hatred and growing violence toward the people of God and that it must happen to force His people to return to Him and to the land where He placed His Name.

As I finish this read and continue my conversations with this author, I am moved with the conviction and the awe that it “MUST be a God Thing.”

Robb Schwartz has been so kind to offer a limited supply of his books to Blessing Broker as we focus this month of September on helping with our Aliyah Initiative.

For a signed copy of Operation Last Exodus, please prayerfully consider joining us in the Aliyah Initiative while there’s still time. For a gift of $40.00 or more, we will send a signed copy of Robb Schwartz, “OPERATION LAST EXODUS” as a token of our sincere appreciation. Click here to give now towards the Aliyah Initiative.

This is what the Lord God says:

“Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations
And set up My flag to the peoples;
And they will bring your sons in their arms,
And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.

– Isaiah 49:22

 

This is what the Lord God says:

“Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations
And set up My flag to the peoples;
And they will bring your sons in their arms,
And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.

– Isaiah 49:22

Obeying God’s Call

Martha’s story continues from the previous blog about the necessity of trust. She had called me crying about finding that her trust was broken with an organization that helps impoverished Russian Jews move to their ancient homeland, Israel. She found that the organization’s leadership doesn’t believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah, although they claimed to have a “fellowship” with Christians.  She felt misled. All Martha really cared about was being obedient to the call that God put on her heart… “Bring Israel’s sons and daughters home!” But she wanted to do so in partnership with obedience to her Savior.

There are multitudes of testimonies of God calling individuals to participate in helping His people. I’d like to share one with you that’s very personal.

There is a great increase, for many different reasons, that Jewish people are sensing a call, an urge, to make what they call, “Aliyah” to Israel.
Could it be a God thing?

A Cup of Coffee and a Divine Appointment

I’d arrived from Phoenix to a Maryland home on the Chesapeake Bay. I knocked on the door of my new friends, a husband and wife. I’d not yet met them in person. Donna said, “The Lord told me to give you this book.” She handed me a copy of Operation Exodus: Prophecy Being Fulfilled by Gustav Scheller.  After a beautiful visit, I continued traveling through Maryland and Virginia meeting with others who are helping take the love of Yeshua, Jesus to the Jewish People scattered around the world.  In between meetings, I settled in a coffee shop to make notes of my travels and prepare for upcoming meetings. I pulled my planner out of my backpack along with the book from Donna. I set them on the table and went to retrieve my order; a quad-Grande Americano with a splash of cream. When I returned to my seat, a well-dressed gentleman had taken the seat next to mine. He told me that he knew the author of the book in front of us.

We found a very interesting course of conversation. I learned that he was the President of an organization called Intercessors for America. Dave proceeded to tell me about his involvement with the organization that I was working for at the time and that while it was not their focus, they too have a calling to help Israel. Dave invited me to his office where we continued our impromptu chat. He then introduced me to a wonderful soul that leads a Christian organization to helps Jews return to Israel! Martha’s and my prayers were answered! God has raised His hand to us.

Blessing Broker’s inaugural project was with that organization to send two families to Israel.  Of course, that was after doing much research and asking a lot of questions from our new contact.

We have since learned about the great need to acclimate to the new country once there.

1. Immigration paperwork
2. Housing
3. Food & clothing
4. Jobs
5. Transportation
6. Learning the language
7. Finding a community of fellowship, etc.

We have come to know a Believer in Israel that is working as a Christian resource, utilizing great stewardship, in helping with all the above and more.

Join Us in His Work

There is a great increase, for many different reasons, that Jewish people are sensing a call, an urge, to make what they call, “Aliyah” to Israel. Could it be a God thing? We believe so and we are joining God in His work to raise a banner to the nations. Join us by praying how the Lord will lead YOU in His call.

September 6th-7th is the Feast of Trumpets. This month we are focused on sounding the call to help with Aliyah and equipping the returning Jewish people with a firm foundation/resource.

Stay tuned for our 9/6/2021 podcast conversation with Chaim on the Galilee regarding Aliyah and what he’s doing to B.L.E.S.S. the returning of Jewish people to Israel.

Do your research, or run the other way, when someone says, “Trust me…”

A small remote village in Africa is desperately in need of water. A well-intentioned organization in America sees the need. The organization puts out a widespread appeal to dig a well in the village. Many people hear the plea to help. Some give to pay in full the cost to dig a well, some in part. Difficulties are later found with the local and national governments. The monies collected are then redistributed to provide individual water filtration devices to some in the original area of appeal and much of it to others.

What’s the problem with this?

The intention of this generous Partner was not fulfilled. Trust is compromised, if not destroyed.

ECFA President (ret.,) Dan Busby wrote the book on trust.  Literally, the title is Trust: The Firm Foundation for Kingdom Fruitfulness.  I met Dan in his office at the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) in Winchester, Virginia, where I was handed a signed copy at the end of our visit.  After many conversations over the years with ECFA’s Member Services, it was thrilling to be in the headquarters of the biggest and best accountability partner of Christian churches and organizations.

Where did the ECFA come from?

The ECFA was founded in 1979 by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the US branch of World Vision to provide accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with established standards for financial accountability, fundraising, and board governance. Members include Christian ministries, denominations, churches, educational institutions, and other tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations.

Blessing Broker® is in the long, detailed process of accreditation with ECFA.  (Full Disclosure: We are currently in the third year of operation as a 501(c)(3) and not yet at the income level to qualify for membership).

At its inception, the ECFA established, and maintains, its Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™ which are drawn from scripture and are fundamental for operating with integrity.

These standards include adherence to:

1. Doctrinal Issues (Biblical Faith)
2. Governance by a responsible board
3. Having financial oversight
4. Use of resources in compliance with laws
5. Transparency
6. Integrity in compensation
7. Excellent stewardship of charitable gifts

It is these standards for which Blessing Broker® was born.

The Necessity of Trust

I received a call many years ago from a friend in tears. Martha (alias) said through her shaken voice, “David, I just learned that this ‘Fellowship’ I’d been sending money to has been lying to me!” My reply to Martha was three questions; “Didn’t you give this gift to the Lord?” Secondly, “When you learned that it wasn’t used as you’d intended, is it not still His?” Lastly, “What will you do the next time?” She dried her tears and we chatted about a few other things before we said goodbye.

What initially shocked me the most was the income and investments of the CEO exceeding $6,000,000.00 per year.

I immediately went to ECFA.org and found that this large ministry was not a member. So, I went to the organization’s website and found their annual reports and 990’s (IRS tax-exempt return). I was shocked at what I found! I won’t turn the dirt here, but something stunk!

The IRS Form 990 provides the public with financial information about a nonprofit organization. What initially shocked me the most was the income and investments of the CEO exceeding $6,000,000.00 per year. Though the notes within the 990 file expressed commensurate compensation of salaries for the CEO and the organization’s executive salaries, which by the way are also seemingly extreme to this observer, it made everything else stink.

Would you have trust in a ministry that paid its CEO millions per year?

As Martha and I continued the conversation over time, she has learned how to ask different questions and do different research on work that she wanted to support and be a part of. My suggestion: Start at ECFA.org.

Mr. Busby and his staff never said, “Trust me….” They didn’t have to. Their integrity, accountability, and excellence speak for themselves. But don’t take our word for it. Check things out for yourself!

Blessing Broker is here to help you ask the great questions, research needs and solutions, and be the blessing with integrity and confidence.

 

Take a closer look at the street corner, the Walmart parking lot, and the popular downtown areas of the city, and you’ll see it. The overwhelming, unmet needs of the growing homeless population are hard to miss and even more difficult to address.

It’s easy to feel like there’s nothing you can do that could ever be enough, but there are actually plenty of ways to help. For example, a care package for the homeless could make a world of difference for someone in need!

Regardless of what you call them – care package, gift bag, or Blessing Bag, these bundles are easy to pack, quick to make, and extremely rewarding for everyone involved. Lucky for you, this blog contains everything you’ll need to know before getting started on your very own care package for the homeless.

Here’s What to Include in Your Care Package for the Homeless

While this isn’t a definitive list, it’s a great place to begin. The guide below contains a variety of care package ideas, outlining five separate gift-giving categories that would be great for the homeless population.

Hopefully, this information will help you maximize the blessing for someone in need of hope, kindness, and change.

1. Hygiene Products

Items that might seem commonplace to you can actually be quite difficult for others to obtain – especially without steady housing. That doesn’t, however, make these belongings any less valuable.

When creating your care package for the homeless, you should definitely include hygiene products like…

• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Hairbrushes
• Deodorant
• Wet wipes
• Nail clippers
• Other similar items

Essentially, you can use your own bathroom toiletries as a reference point – items you grab every day as you get ready!

Although cleanliness is often overlooked, it still represents a great need in the homeless population. Most of these people do not have access to showers, so they struggle to prevent the spread of disease and maintain a well-kept appearance. By including hygiene products in your care package, you can directly help them with these issues.

2. Everyday Necessities

As you’re preparing your blessing bag and brainstorming fun, new items to pack, don’t forget the absolute essentials: food and water.

These two items are hard to come by without a steady income, so many people live day-to-day, unsure where their next meal might come from or if it’s coming at all.

As you decide what food items to pack, keep nutrition and shelf life in mind. You’ll want to use items that can withstand all types of conditions, last a long time, and adequately nourish the body – all while tasting great! This is supposed to be a blessing, after all.

Once you’ve sorted out the food, make sure you include water bottles of some sort. This can seem like a less exciting component, but it’s even more important than the food. Many health issues can be avoided with proper hydration.

3. Items for General Health & Wellness

While these items might not immediately come to mind, they are great to include in a blessing bag. Unknown conditions and extended time spent outside can create unforeseen problems for the homeless population.

Between Chapstick, lotion, first aid kits, and sunscreen, your blessing bag can help someone avoid mild to severe discomfort.

Because the general public has easy access to these items, they seem inconsequential. However, people without a home may go long periods of time without them, causing harsh side effects on the body and creating easily avoidable problems.

Gifting these products could positively impact a difficult situation.

4. Products to Improve Living Conditions

You may not be able to give someone a home, but you can do your absolute best to improve their current living conditions.

There are tons of items that do exactly this. Take a look at these care package ideas including:

• Blankets
• Gloves
• Socks
• Public transportation passes (if applicable)
• Rain gear
• Flashlights
• Grocery store gift cards
• Researched list of additional local resources

Any number of these items would be helpful, so feel free to include more than one when you pack your blessing bag.

You may not be able to give someone a home, but you can do your absolute best to improve their current living conditions.

5. Sources of Encouragement

It’s easy to see the physical needs of the homeless population, but the emotional and spiritual ones often go unmet. That’s why encouragement is such an important part of each blessing bag.

This part can be general or more personal to you, so feel free to get creative! The following items are a great place to start: books, devotional content, Bible (or an individual book of the Bible), encouraging notes, and more.

Think back to a time in your own life when you needed support. What was it that helped you through that hard time? How can you replicate that resource for your care package for the homeless?

As long as you put some thought into your gift and consider all the options above, you’re sure to significantly bless someone who is struggling. Packing a blessing bag is quick, easy, and meaningful. You have no idea what your gift could mean to someone else.

Double Your Blessing Today

Say you take these care package ideas and create a really amazing gift, but you want to do even more for the struggling populations. In this case, you might consider partnering with one of the organizations that help the homeless. Blessing Broker® works to distribute Blessing Bags both locally and across the globe.

When you give toward the Blessing Bag project, the team at Blessing Broker® will give a care package away while also sending you your own Blessing Bag to pack an additional care package. We will also include a Gospel of John Booklet for you to pack in your Blessing Bag. This opportunity is great for those looking to maximize their impact and sow their seed in a bigger capacity while sharing the love of Jesus with others. You can get your very own Blessing Bag today by going to our donate page and choosing to double your blessing after selecting “Blessing Bags”.

For those of you still looking for additional ways and organizations to help the homeless and general population, Blessing Broker® partners with a number of ministries to provide aid to people all over the world. 100% of your designated donations go toward the cause you care about most when you give with Blessing Broker®.

Twas the night before Christmas…

Twas the night before Christmas, 2014, my sister walked through the door and her eyes went immediately to the countertop where my gift sat.  She saw the Hanukkiah I’d brought home for Christmas and exclaimed, “What?! … Are we Jewish now?”

I laughed and replied, “No, but since Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, shouldn’t we?”

John 10:22-23 (TLV) says, “Then came Hanukkah (the Feast of Dedication;”) it was winter in Jerusalem. Yeshua was walking in the Temple around Solomon’s Colonnade.”

Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, called a menorah (or hanukkiah). One branch is typically placed above or below the others and its candle is used to light the other eight candles. This unique candle is called the shamash (Hebrew: שַׁמָּשׁ‎, “attendant”). Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shamash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the festival.[4] Other Hanukkah festivities include singing Hanukkah songs, playing the game of dreidel and eating oil-based foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods. Since the 1970s, the worldwide Chabad Hasidic movement has initiated public menorah lightings in open public places in many countries.[5] (Wikipedia, 2021)

The Baptist church we grew up with didn’t mention the Hanukkiah or the “Feast of Dedication” written in the Book of John, nor did we ever hear any teaching on the “Feasts of the Lord.”  I don’t recall hearing much about Israel, either.  At least not in the context of God’s promises toward her except by extension to the “church,” which many do without rightly dividing the scripture (II Timothy 2:15). For example, many teachers, preachers, and denominations wrongly ascribe God’s promises and blessings to the “church” when His Word is specific to an individual or nation.

First Baptist Church, however, did teach us to study the Bible. According to my Strong’s Concordance, “Israel” is listed 2,465 times.  With so many references in God’s Word, why wouldn’t we want to study its relevance to the past, present, and future acts of God regarding Israel?

Why should Gentile Christians support Israel?

In a word; “RESTORATION.” Israel is the only place or Nation that God has placed His Name and promises to restore the world. The Bible contains over 1,800 predictions concerning more than 700 separate subjects found in over 8,300 verses. That’s nearly a third of the Bible!  The Old Testament contains more than 300 prophecies concerning Jesus Christ alone, many with amazing specificity. Numerous prophecies have already been fulfilled, and they have come to pass precisely as foretold. The mathematical odds of someone making this number of predictions and having every one of them come to pass are light-years beyond the realm of human possibility. These miraculous prophecies could only be accomplished with the supernatural guidance of Him who sees the end from the beginning. It Must Be A God Thing!

Do you want to see Jesus’ return?  Does His empty grave give you hope? We know that when He does return, He will restore ALL things.

Jesus said, “For I tell you, you will never see Me again until you say, ‘Baruch ha-ba b’shem ADONAI. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” –Matthew 23:39

Do you want to see Jesus’ return?  Does His empty grave give you hope? We know that when He does return, He will restore ALL things. He’s not going to Rome, New York, or Anytown, USA — He’s not returning omnipresently over the whole earth. Jesus is returning to Israel!  But not until they call out to Him.

We want nothing more than for Him to find us joined with Him in His work when He returns. Please join us in sharing the love of Jesus with those living in the land and the people of Israel.

Experiencing God

Over thirty years ago, Henry Blackaby released a book and study guide entitled, “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God.”

Of the thousands, if not tens-of-thousands of hours studying the bible in my lifetime, Experiencing God has been the greatest aid, alongside the bible, to grow my faith and trust in Jesus, my Savior, and my God. We see Him moving in Israel and choose to join Him in His work.

The premise is this;

God is always moving

John 5:17, 19-20 My Father is still working, and I am working… I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing.

He invites us to join Him in His work

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself… and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us.

When we do, He blesses us as we know and do the will of God

Ephesians 3:16-21 I pray that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Of the thousands, if not tens-of-thousands of hours studying the bible in my lifetime, Experiencing God has been the greatest aid, alongside the bible, to grow my faith and trust in Jesus, my Savior, and my God. We see Him moving in Israel and choose to join Him in His work.

#BLESS #BeTheBlessing #BlessIsrael #BlessedBeyondMeasure #Charity #ExperiencingGod #Blackaby #Return #Rapture #Bible #Maranatha