Thank you, 49ers, for a great season!

by Jeremy Hoffmann

As Jews for Jesus headquarters are in San Francisco, many of us here are San Francisco 49er fans. So, although our team lost in overtime Sunday to a fine New York Giants squad, we offer this tribute to our team and especially to coach Jim Harbaugh:

Oh, what a difference a coach makes!

In his first season as 49ers coach, Jim Harbaugh helped turn a 6-10 team into a 13-3 unit that made it all the way to the NFC Championship game. He also helped transform the much-maligned Alex Smith into one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL!

How did Harbaugh do all this?

• By never criticizing his players in front of each other or to the media
• By being quick to praise his players’ efforts.
• By fighting for every yard.

Wouldn’t you like a coach like that, one who could strengthen you through life’s difficulties? There is such a helper. The Bible refers to him as the Holy Spirit. Like a good coach, he is able to instruct you. In fact, he will lead you to the truth:

“The Father . . .  will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. . . . he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17)

The Holy Spirit was not invented by Christians in the New Testament. You can find the Ruach Ha Kodesh in the Hebrew Scriptures too! After King David sinned with Bathsheba, he called out to God: 

“Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:11)

There was another king (some referred to him as the Son of David), and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Pontius Pilate mockingly gave him another title, “King of the Jews,” as he suffered on a cross to die for our sins.

But three days later, Y’shua (Jesus) achieved victory over the greatest opponent we all face—death—when he rose from the grave and proved that he is the King of Kings!

And he will infuse us with the Holy Spirit if we turn from our sins and believe in him:

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)

Want to make the greatest catch of all? Receive Y’shua today! To learn how, click here.

Who will be in the Super Bowl? The best option...

Just because the media spotlight is off of Tim Tebow, doesn’t mean that avid football fans who are interested in God, don’t have a story to tell.
The NFC/AFC championship games are this coming Sunday. And there are several scenarios that could become reality:

1. There could be a re-match of Super Bowl XLII with the Giants and Patriots.  
2. Or the Patriots could be defeated by a hungry Ravens team.  
3. Or the Giants could be defeated by a very, very good Niners team.
4. And then we could have a Har-Bowl come February 5th.

I go for option #4.  I like the idea of brothers, who love one another, competing for a trophy.  Besides, I live in San Francisco, and my heart has been with the Forty-Niners for a lot of years.
It’s okay to have favorite teams that we root for.  If you think about it, God sees us, the human race, as his favorite team to root for.  He wants us to get that trophy.  It’s called eternal life.  It’s much more important than the outcome of any sports event.  You see, God touched down on earth two thousand years ago as a man, Y’shua (you know him better as Jesus) to offer us a place in His-story.  I go for that option. It’s the best one.

by Susan Perlman

Midnight in Paris

(A Reflection on the Film Now Showing in Theaters)
by Rich Robinson

So You Wanna Be a Green Lantern?

So You Wanna Be a Green Lantern? A Reflection on the Film Now in Theaters Who wouldn’t want to be … Chosen for a great task? Equipped with a really cool power ring? Outfitted in an awesome glowing green bodysuit? Test pilot Hal Jordan did! Of course he also had to . . . Be tutored by Tomar-Re, a fish-faced alien. Go through boot camp with Kilowog, a cross between a gorilla and a hippopotamus. Be overseen by the Guardians, owl-like blue beings on perches. And face off against Hector Hammond, a scientist who morphs into David Crosby on a bad hair day. Though he admits he’s afraid, Hal can only save Earth by not giving into fear, the ultimate evil. But let’s face it … we’re not really superheroes. Unlike Green Lantern, we don’t always overcome our fears. Some fear death… others fear life. Some are afraid of sickness or pain… others are afraid of failure. (Some are even afraid of success.) Many fear that their lives don’t have meaning. Some fear the inevitable sequel to this movie. We can’t overcome our fears like Hal Jordan, just by will power.  But there is a way to conquer fear: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. — 1John 4:18. But who has perfect love? Only one person, who said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 That was Jesus speaking. He wasn’t a test pilot, but he landed on earth to show us God’s love, to take away our fears, and to fulfill our hopes by giving his life for our sins. For that, you don’t need a power ring. Don’t be afraid to check it out. Email rich.robinson@jewsforjesus.org