From David Hocking

MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND HONORING THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD YESHUA! It is our prayer at HOPE for TODAY that celebrations of Chanukah and Christmas may focus on the glorious truth that God "became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory." Luke 2:11 - "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, which is CHRIST THE LORD." The word "redeemed" appears 62 times in the Bible of which 55 are in the Old Testament, 13 in Isaiah, and 10 in the last 27 chapters. The word "redeem" is used 56 times in the Bible of which 54 are in the Old Testament, and once in Isaiah 50:2. Interestingly, the word "Redeemer" is found 18 times, all in the Old Testament, and 13 times in the last 27 chapters of Isaiah. The theme of this message is "the salvation of our God." The word "salvation" is found 164 times in the Bible, 119 in the Old Testament, 28 in Isaiah and 21 times in the last 27 chapters! The word "saved" is found 5 times in the last 27 chapters, and the word "Savior" 7 times in those same chapters: Isaiah 43:3 - "For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior" Isaiah 43:11-12 - "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no Savior." Isaiah 45:15 - "Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior" Isaiah 45:17 - "But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation" Isaiah 45:21-22 - "there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside Me. Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." Isaiah 49:26 - "and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob" Isaiah 60:16 - "and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob" Isaiah 63:8-9 - "so He was their Savior. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old" Isaiah 64:5 - "we shall be saved" JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON! You might want to get the messages that we have put on the radio, and strengthen your commitment to honor and worship our blessed Lord, our SAVIOR and our REDEEMER! WHERE ARE THE CHRISTIANS? by Jack Engelhard First, a confession. I hated school. Teachers frightened me and I still get nightmares thinking of our principal, Mr. Webster. I got a case of the willies from the moment I got up in the morning. I'd walk to school with one black eye from yesterday and get back home with another black eye from today. Win or lose, you had to fight back. The schoolyard itself was just as tough. Montreal was a tough town. But these were skirmishes and scuffles, a rite of passages from boyhood to manhood. You were being taught that life in and around the schoolyard was a sample of what it's going to be like later on - and you had friends. Doodie and Moishe and Tevee...we were always there for one another. We could count on the Cohens and the Goldbergs. We could also count on the Smiths and the Pattersons. Jews, Christians, we were in it together. So where are the Christians today? From campus to campus, Jewish students are hurting. Waiting for them are armies of trained specialists, Arabs who are ready to pounce on them by use of Beer Hall tactics and Brownshirt thuggery. They have been sent over here, and funded, by their sheiks and imams to intimidate and to radicalize and they appear to be succeeding. Of course a respectable number of Arab students are just that, students and legitimate, but that makes the burden on Jewish kids no easier. Yes you are your brother's keeper. But where are you? We have seen the tape of a man at Berkeley waving an Israeli flag, which represents freedom and tolerance --- and being jeered. Mostly Arabs did the jeering. But where was Smith in protest? The same individual (furthering the experiment) now waves an ISIS flag, which represents oppression and intolerance - now being cheered. Mostly Arabs did the cheering. But where was Patterson to activate outrage? I cannot imagine what it must be like going to school Jewish in an atmosphere like this. I cannot imagine what it must be like getting up in the morning knowing that this is what you will be facing, a type of methodized hatred never seen before. Except in Nazi Germany. I have been getting letters from some of these students. They want to get it off their chests; the willies they've been getting. Going to class has become a nightmare. The campus has become a recruitment center for Arab fundamentalism. Hatred stalks the corridors. There is nothing arbitrary about campus anti-Semitism sweeping the country. Rather it is a systematic approach by fanatical Islamists to break the Jewish spirit. They come here as students but that is only a pretext. To reason with them is pointless because their fanaticism is robotic. Their bigotry is deep-seated and their racism and their grievances travel with them wherever they go. Jewish kids are no match. So where are the Christians who've been taught to love their neighbor - who've been raised to serve as shelters to those who suffer? Silence? Yes you are your brother's keeper. But where are you? Your fellow students could use a helping hand. Your fellowship is urgently needed. Of Jewish students attracted to the scoffers, lighting Hanukkah candles isn't enough and running with BDS won't protect you from their scorn. Your coreligionists in Israel count on your support. Where are you? Of Christians, more is expected of your Christianity than to decorate the Christmas tree. David Hocking HFT Connect