open their eyes lord!

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When Nancy and I arrived in Jerusalem, we were reminded once again of the great love God has for our people, the Lost Sheep of Israel.

That will be celebrated again on May 14 th (the date on our calendar) as the United States opens its new embassy in Jerusalem.

But our focus on Israel is not about the politics which wax and wane with the rhythms of those in or out of favor with the people.

1 Acts 1:8... you will be my open their eyes lord! witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. The Apple of His Eye NEWSLETTER PO BOX 6977 ST. LOUIS MO May 2018 Sights and Sounds from Jerusalem Many have told me that they want to come and visit the Holy Land but have never had the opportunity. When Nancy and I arrived in Jerusalem, we were reminded once again of the great love God has for our people, the Lost Sheep of Israel. After nearly two thousand years of wandering in the diaspora (the world outside of Israel) our people have just celebrated the 70 th anniversary of the re-establishment of Israel. That will be celebrated again on May 14 th (the date on our calendar) as the United States opens its new embassy in Jerusalem. God willing, we plan to be there for that historic event, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. But our focus on Israel is not about the politics which wax and wane with the rhythms of those in or out of favor with the people. Our focus is simple, to speak to all who will hear of the grace and mercy God has given us through Y shua Jesus the Messiah. The Jewish population of Israel is over 6.5 million, 99% of whom do NOT believe in Jesus as the promised Messiah. As we walk the main streets of Jerusalem we encounter a vast spectrum of people from atheists to ultra-orthodox and a myriad of sub-groups in between. The hustle and bustle of the busy, crowded streets reflects the frenetic pace of life,. Yet when the siren was sounded two hours before sundown last Sabbath, the sound of silence in the streets was stunning. And just after the end of the Sabbath, the store and restaurants re-opened as the streets again were flooded. People, everywhere people, people who need the Lord. We covet your prayers for the word of the Lord to sound forth offering grace and mercy in coming home to the Lord through the Messiah. In Y shua - Steve Cohen On Bust Ben Jehudah street, a pedestrian shopping area in central Jerusalem, many converse while others seek to collect monies for charity. This rabbi was sitting behind a banner which says Messiah. He is not a follower of Jesus, but the late Rebbe Schneerson.

After a couple of minutes of polite conversation with a gentleman a little older than I am, he asked me, What do you do for a living?

2 What Do You Do For A Living? Isn t that a typical question we oftentimes ask or get asked when we meet someone new? What do you do for a living? This happened to me again just recently when I went to the dentist for my six-month checkup while waiting in the waiting room to be called. After a couple of minutes of polite conversation with a gentleman a little older than I am, he asked me, What do you do for a living? Without missing a beat and taking full advantage of the opportunity to give a witness of my faith, here was my answer: I m part of a wonderful organization called The Apple of His Eye Mission Society. What I do as part of the team is conduct search and rescue efforts here in the United States and now I m going to Israel to do the same! My search and rescue efforts are captured in our mission statement, which is Boldly declaring Y shua as Messiah! Urgently equipping believers in Jesus to do the same! These search and rescue endeavors are opportunities to create relationships with Jews and Gentiles alike that will allow me to share with everyone who the Messiah really is. I believe, as the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. I wish you could have been there with me to see this gentleman s face! It took him a minute or two to recover and all he said before I was called in to see the dental technician was, I never heard of anyone having a job like that! While I didn t ask, I think I made his day! Shalom! In His service... and yours, Rev. Dr. Bob Roegner. Missionary to Israel P.S. The picture is Immanuel Church (Lutheran) in Jaffa, Tel Aviv. This is one of the places where these search and rescue efforts will take place. Travel with us in February 2019 to the Holy Land! COST for the trip is $3,495 per person (double occupancy). An additional cost of $625 for a single, or anyone requesting a private room. COST INCLUDES round-trip airfare from your departure city; good, 4-star hotels for nine nights; nine breakfasts and ten dinners per plan; a St. Peter s fish lunch at the Sea of Galilee; travel by private motor coach for nine days with bi-lingual Hebrew and English-speaking Christian tour guide; admission to the sites we visit during the trip (including Masada cable car); one Audio Guide System wireless headset device per traveler; and all taxes and fees. COST DOES NOT INCLUDE a United States Passport (good for at least six months after the trip); medical coverage; lunch each day (except for the St. Peter s fish lunch in Galilee); beverages at meals; souvenirs; internet; phone calls; porterage services; tips for bus driver, guide, hotels and restaurants; and any other miscellaneous personal expenses. Rev. Dr. Bob & Kristi Roegner will be co-hosts and leaders for this journey through the historical sites of the Holy Land in Israel. With over 36 years of experience in missions, the Roegners have traveled extensively around the world. Their mission involvement has helped them develop a great appreciation of other cultures and peoples. Their insight and knowledge of the Holy Land, as The Apple of His Eye s first missionaries in Israel, will help make your trip more enjoyable and a great learning experience. For a copy of the trip brochure and registration form please feel free to send an to robert.roegner@appleofhiseye.org or call Dr. Roegner at

3 Angels are rejoicing and so are we! Thank you for praying... earlier I wrote of this witnessing opportunity with a Jewish family: Steve, Shalom! May Christ s shalom be with you on this Good Friday I bring joyous news on this day. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Wendy and her children were baptized last night during our Maundy Thursday service. In addition, she and her Confirmation aged daughter also received their first Holy Communion later in the service. Thank you for your ministry to her, her family, and to me. Thank you also for your ministry to the many who have not yet heard the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Christ - Rev. Jim Kent - First Lutheran Church Huntingtown, MD Earlier he wrote: Question How is the best way to help the mother understand that baptism will not affect her Jewishness (or will affect it)? I m of the understanding from what I read on the AOHE website (e.g. Understanding Jewish Identity ) that baptism will not affect her identity as a Jew it will allow her to be a Jew while also claiming the gift of God s grace and mercy forgiveness of sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I look forward to discussing the best ways my DCE (Family Life Ministry) and I can work with this family in general and the mother in particular. Thank you in advance for your assistance, advice, and counsel. Now you can give a secure donation to The Apple of His Eye by text message using your cell phone. The process for making a donation is as follows: Open a blank text message Enter in To field Enter $ amount and fund name in message field: Fund names: Steve; Nancy, Bob, Israel, Generalfund Send text and wait for system reply with URL to mobile donation page Complete informational fields on mobile donation page and submit donation A text message will confirm the donation

4 Shalom! I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your willingness stand with us. This is now the 22nd year since we began in August, 1996 and we praise God for the thousands of opportunities we have had to speak with others of Jesus. As I write this note, I am in Jerusalem serving a team from Jews For Jesus as chaplain. I am drawing on my 42 years of missionary experience to give these leaders and leaders in training the opportunity to reflect on their relationship with the Lord and how they can serve those who need the Gospel. This season of year leads up to Shavuot (Pentecost), a time when the wheat harvest was brought up to Jerusalem to replenish the storehouses for the priests to minister on behalf of all Israel. We seek your mission support over and above your regular church giving to replenish the storehouse for our mission work. And we seek your prayers as we officially begin our new effort to reach the Lost Sheep of Israel IN Israel. Yours in Y shua - Steve Cohen, founder Psalm 122:3

5 NanC s Corner Paying For The Sins of The Father Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:17 One of the perceived hindrances for Jewish evangelism both in the US and Israel were the statements made by Martin Luther later in his life. For those in ministries like ours, it is common knowledge that Jewish leaders are quick to quote these statements as a shield against hearing the Gospel. We need to shift the focus from Luther to Jesus who never advocated these things! Sadly most Lutherans don t know the words Martin Luther used against the Jewish people three years before he died. His statements are not taught to the congregations but they should be. If we are going to laud a man partly responsible for the reformation and name a denomination after him, then shouldn t we know the whole of his life and not just the parts that appeal? The answer to that is yes yes we should know the whole picture. Being informed is not a sin and knowledge, in actuality, gives us power and insight to the thinking of others who may not know the whole story. Here are Luther s words concerning treatment of the Jews: First, to set fire to their synagogues or schools This is to be done in honor of our Lord and of Christendom, so that God might see that we are Christians Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed. Third, I advise that all their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing, and blasphemy are taught, be taken from them. Fourth, I advise that their rabbis be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss of life and limb Fifth, I advise that safe-conduct on the highways be abolished completely for the Jews. For they have no business in the countryside Sixth, I advise that usury be prohibited to them, and that all cash and treasure of silver and gold be taken from them Seventh, I recommend putting a flail, an ax, a hoe, a spade, a distaff, or a spindle into the hands of young, strong Jews and Jewesses and letting them earn their bread in the sweat of their brow But if we are afraid that they might harm us or our wives, children, servants, cattle, etc., then let us emulate the common sense of other nations such as France, Spain, Bohemia, etc., then eject them forever from the country continues on the next page...

These are horrible, strong statements against God s chosen.

anti-lutheran sentiment. As an aside, let me just add that it was Steve Cohen and the Task Force on Jewish Evangelism who wrote the denouncement, which was ratified by the Synod.

Psalm 79:8 Knowing the fact of the statements and the denouncement, gives you power. Intelligence in a manner shows you are aware and can sympathize.

6 These are horrible, strong statements against God s chosen. NOW here s the rest of the story: In 1983, The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod denounced Luther s hostile attitude toward the Jews in convention also rejected the use of Luther s statements to incite anti-lutheran sentiment. As an aside, let me just add that it was Steve Cohen and the Task Force on Jewish Evangelism who wrote the denouncement, which was ratified by the Synod. Power Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Psalm 79:8 Knowing the fact of the statements and the denouncement, gives you power. Intelligence in a manner shows you are aware and can sympathize. Love And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 st Peter 4:8 I have been rejected so many times I can t count them all. That hurt goes deep and is like a sand burr in your skin that needs to be pulled out. Only God s love can restore and overcome that hurt. Becoming a Lutheran was, at first, actually offensive to me as a Jew. Remember, understanding and love will cover a multitude of sin (i.e.: wrong statements). Loving the Jewish person will help to cover the sin of slander and actions taken against them. Believe me the Jewish people know the words of Luther, let s not allow it to be a stumbling block for salvation. I recently heard Jewish believer say: Because of the events of the church against the Jew the Israeli will long remember what is done over what is said. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 8:16 IF you are following the command of God to spread the gospel and IF you believe what God tells us to do in Romans 1:16 then please consider what I have shared. We need to get on with the task set before us be a light to the lost sheep of Israel. From my heart, blessings and love, nanc

NEWS YOU CAN BE PRAYING FOR... PLEASE Thousands of people across Germany marched recently in solidarity with the country s Jewish community amid rising concerns over anti-semitism.

solidarity. The largest event took place in Berlin, with other demonstrations held across the country in Erfurt, Potsdam and Cologne -- with people of different faiths coming together.

7 NEWS YOU CAN BE PRAYING FOR... PLEASE Thousands of people across Germany marched recently in solidarity with the country s Jewish community amid rising concerns over anti-semitism. A day after Josef Schuster, head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, warned against Jewish men wearing a kippa (skullcap) in public, demonstrators wore the head covering in a gesture of solidarity. The largest event took place in Berlin, with other demonstrations held across the country in Erfurt, Potsdam and Cologne -- with people of different faiths coming together. I feel like being a Jew in Germany nowadays is something that carries a bit more significance than it did a couple of years ago, Felix Tamsut told CNN from the demonstration in Cologne. I feel as if the atmosphere has changed. People talk about the wave of Muslim immigration but the risk also comes from extreme right-wing. That s where most anti-semitic crime in Germany comes from. Anti-Semitism is on the rise and sentiments which haven t been made public before are now being made public because of the rise of the AfD. Tamsut feels that the success of the AfD has emboldened anti-semites and allowed them to voice their opinion without shame. He also rejects far-right rhetoric, which blames the attacks on asylum seekers fleeing from Arab nations. I ve met many refugees personally and I m proud to call them my friends but the problem is for a lot of them is that they d never met a Jew before, Tamsut added. They don t know what we stand for or who we are. They just assume. That s not true for everyone, but it is for a significant amount. For the right wing, it s more problematic and it s not going away. It s on the rise, and as a secular Jew who lives the life of an average citizen here in Germany, the right wing sometimes scares me. Anti-Semitism did not need to be imported into Germany -- it was always there, Marcel Dirsus, political scientist at the University of Kiel, told CNN. But now Jews in Germany are faced with a resurgent far right as well as a new kind of anti-semitism that is the result of immigration from the Arab world. Some opponents of Merkel s refugee policy are using a string of recent anti-semitic incidents to attack her stance. Some supporters of her open-door policy deny that immigration from Muslim majority countries and a surge in anti-semitism are at all related. Germany needs to make that Jews can feel safe in Berlin, Hamburg or Munich. To do so, Germans will need to make tough choices, Dirsus said. People of different faiths wear the kippa during a demonstration against antisemitism in Erfurt.

8 Israel... Moving Forward! THE APPLE OF HIS EYE MISSION SOCIETY IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN! In the Apostle Peter s first letter, chapter two, verse nine, we hear these words, However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (GWN). We know that God is always using us for His Kingdom purposes and maybe He would like to use you too, as The Apple of His Eye Mission Society begins moving forward into Israel! How about becoming an Israel Prayer Warrior? Be looking for more information on this soon. Maybe you would consider the possibility of coming to Israel with us to volunteer? Drop us an at robert.roegner@appleofhiseye.org or give us a phone call at and we can make a volunteer opportunity in Israel a reality. Or maybe the Lord has placed on your heart and given you the resources to financially support our work in Israel. Then please copy and paste the following to learn more, You can also donate now by sending a text (see page?? for instructions). Don t let Satan deceive you that you re not worthy or that you re not capable. He s a liar! Remember, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. The next time you feel like GOD can t use you, just remember Noah was a drunk Abraham was too old Isaac was a daydreamer Jacob was a liar Leah was ugly Joseph was abused Moses had a stuttering problem Gideon was afraid Samson had long hair and was a womanizer Rehab was a prostitute Jeremiah and Timothy were too young David had an affair and was a murderer Elijah was suicidal Isaiah preached naked Jonah ran from God Naomi was a widow Job went bankrupt John the Baptist ate bugs Peter denied Christ The disciples fell asleep while praying Martha worried about everything The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once Zacchaeus was too small Paul was too religious Timothy had an ulcer AND Lazarus was dead! No more excuses now!! God can use you to your full potential. Besides, you aren t the message, you are just the messenger! Shalom! In His service... and yours Rev. Dr. Bob Roegner - Missionary to Israel

welcome bob roegner!

welcome bob roegner! Acts 1:8... you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Summer 2018 Welcome Bob & Kristi Roegner! By Steve Cohen - founder Bob