My ID Massacre! -- I’m a Marked Man!

I’ve been upset, sad and angry, hurt and disappointed…the whole “enchilada.” But I can now say that I can laugh in the face of my oppositions and disappointments.

The first time I realized I was a marked man was when a high ranking Israeli leader showed me a file they had on me. I was shocked! I was speechless and stupefied. I asked myself, “How in the world would such records get all the way to this high office in Jerusalem?”

Sure enough, this was only the beginning of a terrible series of reports on me and my activities. (Not to worry because I’m not setting the stage for a horrible confession of any sort!) I must say that almost all those reports were false or contained outdated and erroneous information.

Another Israeli leader threw some acronyms of organizations I didn’t even recognize. What’s worse, they associated me with Christian councils and organizations I’ve long resigned from or never even belonged to. If they would’ve only asked—I would’ve told them but they chose to “Google” me through the internet. All they used was false and erroneous information.

I’ve been accused of being a missionary, a Messianic, a Baptist pastor, a Jewish imposter, a Jews for Jesus fanatic and on and on. The truth is that I’ve been none of these!

A vicious group of individuals that I’ll refer to as “wanna-be Jews” published a report on me saying that “The jury is out, now we know that Dell Sanchez is a Baptist pastor…” Frankly, I’ve never even been a Baptist nor a Baptist pastor. What often hurts the most is that the handful of these individuals happens to be from among my own people that have become embittered enemies of our cause.

It’s strange that these few “wanna-be Jews” do the very things that Torah talks against such as presenting false reports and even alienating sincere learners. And a few Christians do about the same thing forgetting that the New Testament has some luscious words against the evil use of the tongue. I must admit that the only Jews I hang out with are “real Jews” that love God and respect me; this includes a few are wonderful rabbis!

As I said before, I can now laugh in the face of all these cartoons—but I still prefer Laurel and Hardy; but, hey, I’m learning to love even those that see themselves as my enemy. They don’t know they’re doing me a favor of keeping the sword of my life razor sharp. I’ll have you know that I’m having the greatest time of my life! I’ll have you know that I’ve never been closer and more intimate with God than today. And I’ve never had such great friends and trustworthy people as now, although few.

I leave you first with the words of Solomon and also David.
Solomon wrote: “A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly.” (Proverbs 12:23)

David wrote: “O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, 2 for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. 3 With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. 4 In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. 5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.” (Psalm 109:1-5)

Shalom from a wonderfully marked man,

Dell
PS, Thanks for helping me make our January “Buy 2—get 1 Free Book” a good success! While this sale isn’t on this month I’d still like you to visit my website’s publication page for a listing of books and DVDs.

Prophecy for 2011

Not Effort but Sacrifice!
(Notice the book blast discount at the end of this letter.)

First, I need to emphasize that you do not need to be a prophet to have foresight and to share your personal prognostications of what you perceive could take place in the future. This statement is more than a shot in the dark--it is something that's deep in my (spiritual) gut. So please cut me a little slack as you read it. If you don't agree, that's fine with me. Either way, I'd like your comments on it.


The year 2010 included two exoduses. As we exited 2010, the weekly Torah portion led us into the Book of Exodus (i.e., exiting). I’m just now remembering that God whispered into my heart that He is ushering us into a desert-exodus experience this year.

I believe God is leading America into a desert of sorts. We’re not to worry because God’s intent is for our good and not for our harm. I do not think this desert wilderness will last 40 years but I do know it is intended to TEST us. Needless to say, we’re at the brink of tests that come in the form of mighty shakings.

Exodus 16:4-5 says, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.’” Please note, God is saying that He wants ‘to see whether we will follow His instruction’ and directives. In other words, the good news is that He wills to instruct and direct us if we let Him. We have nothing to loose if we do and all to loose if we don’t.

Exodus 20:20 says that Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” His tests are intended to keep us from sinning any more. In other words, God’s intent is to STOP US from sinning—because we have sinned pretty miserably.

God’s test includes no less than two things.

First, God is taking our “toys” away from us. Secondly, God is requiring more than our good efforts—He is demanding sacrifice. Let me explain.

God is stripping us, including our government from the toys that have consumed much of our attention, money and time. God is stripping us of our pet projects which kept us too busy from truly listening and depending on Him. We’ve become addicted to the little toys that keep us so busy on an individual and a national basis. We see this in the news every single day—how God is stripping our government from material things we took for granted which led to mismanagement of God’s resources. This is sending shock waves all across our nation and also affecting all nations of the world. And He isn’t through with us yet.

Secondly, God is requiring real sacrifices from each and every American citizen. Situations that we could previously accomplish with some good effort will no longer work this year. God has led us to the point where we must go way above and beyond the very best efforts we could ever engage in. God is expecting us to make real sacrifices in order to attain His best for us and for our nation.

Psalms 51:16-17 reads: “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

In other words, God will no longer endure what we called our personal sacrifices which became nothing more than route and routine. He is requiring the sacrifices of a “broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart…”

This sounds much like that which God spoke to King Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Now this is what I call sacrifice in this day and age in our nation–willingness to humble ourselves, a real commitment to pray and truly seek God’s face and to turn from our “wicked ways.” But this shouldn’t be a sacrifice if we hadn’t become such a proud and arrogant people.

The epitome of the sacrifice God’s calling for is captured in Psalm 50:5 which says, “Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

God doesn’t want another temporary or provisional commitment. He wants a permanent and irreversible covenant with Him which can take place only by our daily and personal sacrifice. This is the only way that, individually, we’ll press beyond the insurmountable obstacles that lay before us. And this is also the only way that our nation might possibly remain as the number-one nation in the world. Failure to do this only spells our nation’s bankruptcy.

And if our nation goes down, most Americans will go down too. Conversely, if most Americans go down, we’ll pull our entire nation along with us too.

So it is that we do not need a new set of toys and addicting pet projects to keep us busy or entertained. We need 2 Chronicles 7:14 to become our daily prayer and action. We need to contract every muscle within our being to sacrifice itself so that we might finally achieve God’s purpose and destiny for us and for our nation.

In conclusion, the title for the first Torah reading for the New Year reads: “And I appeared.” I earnestly believe that if we follow the 2 Chronicles 7:14 formula set by The Almighty, He shall appear to our nation once again. I believe God will “hear from heaven and will forgive (our) sin and will heal (our) land”—and this begins with you and me today.

Shalom,

Dell

PS: Don’t forget you’ve got till the end of January ('11) to get in on the BOOK BLAST DISCOUNT. For any two titles you purchase, you’ll get a FREE copy of my book, “THE LAST EXODUS.” Simply go to the PUBLICATIONS page of my website and put your order. WWW.4sephardim.com

INTANGIBLE GIFTS ARE BEST!

--Presents that come with your Presence—

The older I get the more I realize I don’t need material things as gifts for the holidays! A handmade card or a t-shirt is just fine—or maybe a few bucks in a Starbuck’s gift card.

But I find myself coveting something of much higher value to me. I’m referring to intangible gifts that can not be purchased because only God can give. I’m talking about gifts such as PEACE and WISDOM. My problem isn’t in the love department as much as it’s in the peace zone.

Even when we know that God loves us and even when He has already afforded us a good dose of heavenly wisdom, unless we have His peace which surpasses our human frailties, we can’t tap into the banks of this wisdom because we’re too up-tight and stressed out. We just can’t think straight.

So it is that first, we need to embrace the gift of God’s peace. King Solomon, known for his tremendous wisdom said: “A heart at peace gives life to the body,” Proverbs 14:30. I take this to mean that God is the sole Source of this peace because He created and formed the human heart. I also take it to mean that if this peace is embedded in our heart, absolutely nothing can take it away from us! This is who we are—peaceful people…peace makers.

So, this holiday season, let’s give of who we are not just what we purchase. Let’s reflect peace everywhere we go.

I leave you with the Prophet Daniel’s words: "Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong," Daniel 10:18-19.


Happy Hanukkah & Merry Christmas!

Dell

PS, I was beginning to stress-out because I hardly ever promote the books God’s given me to publish. But, hey, if I’m going to exercise peace, I’m going to just put the word out and let God do the rest. Don’t forget my recent publication, “OUT FROM HIDING.” Just go to www.4sephardim.com and click on the Publications page and pay with your credit card via our Paypal system that’s worked just fine for us.

LIGHTS – CAMERAS – ACTION!

Hanukah Lights Up the Sanchez’

What more could I ask for–my new book published and now two brand new TV programs en español, in Spanish. But that’s not all! A film maker is doing a special documentary film on the work Helen and I do among our people, the Sephardic Anusim. Let’s chat about it for a moment or two.

First, let’s start with my new book, “Out from Hiding—Evidences of Sephardic Roots among Latinos.” This is the compilation of 15 years of investigation, travels and previous publications. It’s hitting the marketplace like a lightning storm. In it I expose new breakthroughs in the social as well as the hard sciences such as DNA.

Immediately after the book came out, I got invited to do a 30 minute Spanish teaching on this same subject on TV. I’ve been doing this for about seven years in English but now they want everything I have said in Spanish too.

And that’s not all; they’ve asked me to do a two hour talk show in Spanish on television on this very subject. So I’ll be bringing in guests from all over the country and abroad to tell their own stories on how they discovered their Jewish roots and how it’s impacted their lives. We’ll include a little cultura (culture) such as music, arts and la cocína (Sephardic kitchen practices).

As they say in TV commercials, “And that’s not all….” – a Texas film maker has begun a documentary that includes the work we’ve done for over all these years. In fact, they’re even flying us to Israel in January to do the documentary in our beloved Negev! The film will be aired on TV channels devoted to this type of film. I’ll keep you posted on the times and dates of airing.

So as you can see, this year, precious Hanukah (or Chanukah) has really lit our lives up big-time, like never before! And guess what. I want to give God all the thanks and glory because HE alone deserves it. I’m just an instrument for His purposes, and enjoy every breath of it. I want to thank those of you that never cease to pray for us and to stand in the gap for us in moral and practical ways.

But now, I think I must say this–I’m going to need your help in order to accomplish all of this in a noble way. What an awesome time as Hanukah to help me do all of this with your love gifts and donations. And what a great time to help me out by purchasing one, two or more of my brand new books. In order to do this, you can visit my website at www.4sephardim.com and check out the PUBLICATIONS page and place your order. Our Paypal system has worked very well for those of you wishing to make a special donation to this noble cause.

I’m sure you won’t be disappointed with my new book nor with my new TV programs or the documentary film. So please help me out now while the challenge is glaring with lights from heaven!

Happy Hanukah!

Dell & Helen

“Out from Hiding – Evidences of Sephardic Roots among Latinos”

My new book, Out from Hiding, is finally off the press! This book actually began in the spring of ’96 when my father told me the secret of his family’s Sephardic (Jewish) roots. I already knew about my wife’s maternal Sephardic lineage but we had nothing on her Dad nor my Dad and Mom up until recently—now we do.

I never imagined that I’d find such a gold mine of evidences as I did. It’s kind of wild because of the deep veins that had been covered up which are filled facts and information that seems to have no end. Each succeeding shred of evidence gave me the insatiable appetite to take another bite, and another and another.

It all started with a story…an oral history. It progressed into the scouring of volumes of documented histories leading me back through the Southwest, then into Mexico, Spain and on to Israel. This ushered me in to the field of onomastics which is the art and science of the origin of our Sephardic surnames.

Then I bumped into the field of material evidence plum in the middle of little and often hidden gravesites where I found different Sephardic inscriptions and symbols on gravestones. Interesting little objects began to pop out of nowhere which served to prove my point.

Suddenly and out of nowhere, DNA slapped me in the face. We began to get little glimpses of Sephardic DNA among many Hispanic men. The wheels of DNA testing began to press forward as the big picture of our people began to unfold before our very eyes. Meanwhile, DNA scientists began to put the DNA puzzle together as they uncovered patterns and trends of DNA test results among Sephardic men in other countries which were exactly the same as many Hispanic Latinos in our own country. The evidences I’ve found are mind boggling.

What started as a book focusing strictly on the oral histories of 13 Sephardic Anusim men and women developed into a broad and comprehensive statement. It was so interesting to see how the collective profile of these 13 oral histories corroborated specific components within the various chapters of my book. I was glad that despite the gulfs between generations and tens of thousands of square miles between our Sephardic ancestors there can yet be found common bonds that link us all together like a beautiful mosaic.

So there you have it, a bird’s eye view of the evidences which I cover in my book, Out from Hiding. .

Now I’d like to talk to you about the special offer referred to above. If I were a top notch best seller such as John Grisham or Max Lucado it would cost me absolutely nothing to publish and distribute my book; but, the reality is that I’m not. So the costs I’ve incurred are pretty hefty but I won’t complain.

This being the case, I would like to propose to you that for a gift of $100 I will send you a paperback copy of my book which I’ll gladly autograph and write a special dedication to you or to whomever you wish. I’m sure it’ll be an excellent gift during the holidays ahead. I’ll cover the shipping and handling costs.

The book does retail for $16.95 but I feel this would be a mutual blessing to both of us: to me because of all the costs; and for you because you’ll be contributing into the first fruits of this book and getting it dedicated to you. (The hardcover copy of my book retails for $26.95.)

If you’re interested, send me an email ASAP telling me the number of books you’d like along with your name, mailing address and a phone number. I’ll quickly send you the exact information you need for the dedication of the book(s) and where to mail your check or money order. My email address is: negevdell@hotmail.com.

On the other hand, if you’re not in a position to enjoy this special offer and would simply like to order one or more books at retail price send me the same information as stated above and I’ll reply ASAP.

Thanks for bearing with me and blessing me along my trail!

Shalom,

Dell

Everything’s Changed!

Our nation is in such a great mess that any act to repair or restore it will take a lot of guts. Besides this, it’s going to be uniquely painful.

I’m intrigued with something the Holy Scriptures say in 2 Chronicles 7:14-15:

“14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” (NIV)

As I said, it’s going to take a lot of guts to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek God’s face and to turn from our wicked ways. I’m convinced it’s also going to be quite painful for all of us because we’ve become quite self-sufficient in believing we do not need God in our lives and in our nation anymore.

We’ve relied on government, politics, media and other social institutions to bail us out. But now we’re beginning to see that the mess we’ve created needs an act of supernatural power that’s way beyond our human capabilities.

Despite the mess we’re in, thank God that the Scripture says, “I WILL HEAR AND WILL FORGIVE…AND HEAL…” It’s time to re-learn how to seek God and to ask Him to bail us out; but, I’m sure we both know that He’s going to make some demands on us too. His demand is to change once we’ve turned from our own humanistic ways.

I hate to say it but unless we do this, we’re inviting Armageddon in our own country.

Personally, I don’t want to see us enter another Civil War. I don’t want to see lawlessness run rampant in the streets because of our own doing.

So, the solution is quite complex and yet very easy. It’s something we can do if we try. Read 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 and follow its prescription.

Shalom,

DELL

Goodbye Tabernacles?

We’re fast approaching the closing of “Sukkoth,” the Feast of Tabernacles which comes to us at the end of each year in the Jewish calendar. And I hope we’ve had a Feast in Tabernacles not just a Feast of Tabernacles. If not, it’s never too late to begin.

The central theme of this Feast isn’t so much the hut or booth as much as the family and members of God’s congregation coming together. What good is a hut (or booth) if our visit and discussion is all wrong and irrelevant?

To me, Sukkoth is about families coming together to enjoy God’s presence, His provision and protection. Please notice I said, “Families” because it’s a time when children bring their children and their children’s children to assemble in an outside booth to celebrate God’s faithful goodness throughout the entire year.

I am one hundred percent convinced that the only method we’re going to survive the onslaughts that lie ahead and are already among is by celebrating perpetual Sukkoths by families joining together to pray, to learn and to share each others goods. Today we call this community—the assembling of saints (Jew or Gentile Christians).

During my adolescence, we had no space in the church building for our growing Sunday School class so we often met under a Mesquite tree outside, or in the shade provided by the side of the church building. Some of my best prayer and bible studies with men have been under a huge oak tree with low reaching branches. These trees remind me of our family trees—families connected like branches to the trunk and the trunk to its roots.

During my elementary years we’d spread open some harsh and thorny bushes in order to make our own little succa or hut in the middle of it. This little thorny hut served as protection from our imaginary enemies. We even had secret entrances into it.

The only way we’re going to survive the grave challenges coming at us today—such as the biggest tax hikes in America’s history coming up in 1/11—will be by our tabernacle lifestyle. This is how God’s family will overcome through its hardy sense of devotion to God, to family and to community. There’s no other way to endure what’s ahead without God in the middle of our community life where we all pull together.

Don’t you think it’s time to get real about the fact that God is preparing us on how to return to a lifestyle of modesty, simplicity and integrity of heart?

In closing, let me say that when David sang the 27th Psalm, the 4th verse gives us the heart of a Tabernacle lifestyle. But in verse 5, he reminds us that God will keep us safe in the “shelter of his Tabernacle.” Then in verse 6, David declares that he’s not going to moan and groan while he presents his sacrifices but shout with joy and with music to the Lord.

May we learn to live in the daily Sukkoths of our life in God!

Hag Sameah – Happy New Year!

Dell

PS, My new book, “Out from Hiding” will be coming off the press shortly. It highlights the fundamental evidences that corroborate the assumption that many Latinos have Sephardic Jewish roots. Some of these evidences include DNA, Onomastics (the origen of Sephardic surnames), material evidences such as artifacts and epigraphy, the historical record, oral histories and personal prognostications...