Once an Arafat Man

Muslim Demographics

This video is sobering.

Once on the Road: Epicenter Conference

This weekend I have the great pleasure of participating in the Epicenter Conference 2009 in San Diego, CA.  This is a pleasure for me because I get to be with my good friend Joel Rosenberg.  Joel has been a good friend to our ministry in the Middle East.  Recently Joel wrote about "Once an Arafat Man" in his new book called "Inside the Revolution". Joel has such a gift at helping people understand the significance of events taking place in the Middle East.  If you've not read the book...you should.  Buy it on Amazon here.

At today's conference, I will be speaking at 2:30pm.  If you're in the area, I hope you can make it.  And if you do, please say hi.  I'd love to meet you.

Learn more about the Epicenter Conference 2009.

"Once" on Fox 4 news in Kansas City

'Once An Arafat Man' not only in the news ... it's in The GOODNews.

The latest edition of 'The GOODNews Paper' published by Challenge Newsline, featured an article highlighting Tass and the book.

Let There Be Peace

     As the innocent suffer in the Middle East, Tass Saada’s story proves that love can triumph over hatred.  The division of the former British mandate of Palestine and the creation of the state of Israel in the years after World War II have been at the heart of Middle Eastern conflicts for the past half century.

     Tass Saada is a former Palestinian Fatah terrorist turned Christian peace envoy.  His is a story of triumph of love over hatred, reconciliation over persistent division.

     Born in the Gaza Strip in 1951, Tass grew up a Palestinian refugee in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.  He learnt to hate Israel for its attitude to the Palestinian people.

     At the age of 17, Tass ran away from home to become a PLO sniper and chauffeur to his hero Yasser Arafat.  In Tass’ autobiography ‘Once An Arafat Man’, he graphically describes the depth to which his hatred took him.  He was a trained killer.  His nickname was as brutal as his life – Jazzar, ‘butcher.’

     Reconciliation with his family was his escape route from the violence.  He returned to Qatar and then moved to the US to complete his academic education.  America for Tass was indeed a land of opportunity.  He went to college, married Karen and started a family, found work and prospered. But anger still ruled his life.

     The turning point came when Tass was confronted by his valued Christian friend and mentor.  ‘…So the thing is this, Tass. If you want to have the peace I have, you must love a Jew.’

     ‘I froze in my tracks,’ writes Tass.  ‘Charlie knew me very well.  He knew about my past with Fatah.  He knew I hated Jews with a passion.’  He then asked me what I knew about Jesus Christ.’

     ‘He was a prophet,’ Tass said.

     ‘Actually, he’s more than a prophet,’ Charlie said.  ‘He is God’s son.  He’s the only God.’  To Tass this was blasphemy.

     Tass couldn’t wait to end the conversation but out of respect for his friend, he stayed to listen when Charlie got out a Bible.

     ‘I must not touch that book!’ Tass said. ‘It’s God’s Word!’

     ‘The truth was,’ admits Tass, ‘I couldn’t figure out the words coming out of my mouth.’

     Charlie began to read.  ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’  (From John’s Gospel)

     ‘The instant he said, “Word”, I began to shake.’  This reminded Tass of his holy book.  ‘Hearing the Bible say essentially the same thing, that Jesus was the Word of God, struck deep to the core of my being.’

      Before he knew it, Tass was on his knees.  A light came into his field of vision and he heard “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  ‘I didn’t know that these words were a repetition of what Jesus said during the Last Supper.  As far as I was concerned, they were a message from Jesus to me.

     ‘I knew this God loved me.  “Oh, Jesus, come into my life!  Forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour!”  A sense of peace and joy rushed into my heart.

     Charlie led Tass in a prayer of salvation.

     ‘I felt as if I were starting my life all over again.’

     That wasn’t the end of his story.  God had many things to teach Tass and his family, not the least the love he put into Tass’ heart of the Jewish people.  Tass and Karen set up a ministry amongst children and young people in Gaza.

Last year they were forced to relocate to Jericho.  Today Tass heads up an organization dedicated to reconcile Arabs and Jews – Hope for Ishmael.             

Once Story at Hillsong

We are back safely in the United States and have already had a whirlwind weekend.  I had the opportunity to share God's loving grace with a group of wonderful people in Kansas City on Saturday.  On Sunday we were with our good friends at Word of Life Church.  Many thanks to our dear friend Pastor Brian Zahnd and his gracious wife Peri.  I was forwarded a video by someone who saw Pastor Brian share our story at Hillsong Church that you can watch below.  Thank you pastor for your love to my family!

An Update

I've been spending much time in the Middle East over the past couple of months.  We're extremely excited about some opportunities to minister to the Arab and Jewish people.  I'm hoping more will be able to be shared with you in the coming months.

"Once an Arafat Man" is doing extremely well...thanks to many of you who have been sharing the story with your churches, your friends and your families.  I've had countless emails from many of you telling me how the book has impacted your perspective on the people of the middle east and how you view your Arab neighbors.  God is so good!

Recently our dear friend Joel Rosenberg let us know that he's mentioned Once An Arafat Man in his upcoming release called Inside the Revolution. Be sure to check it out on Amazon here.

We have some speaking engagements and interviews coming in the U.S. and we're looking forward to meeting many of you. 

Thank you again for your love and support!

Hamas Raids Aid Trucks

By YAAKOV KATZ AND JPOST.COM STAFF Hamas on Monday raided some 100 aid trucks that Israel had allowed into Gaza, stole their contents and sold them to the highest bidders.

The IDF said that since terminal activity is coordinated with UNRWA and the Red Cross, Israel could do nothing to prevent such raids, Israel Radio reported.

Between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the army had ceased all military activity in Gaza and once again established a "humanitarian corridor" to help facilitate the transfer of the supplies.

The Kerem Shalom and Karni crossings had been opened to allow in the aid trucks.

Read the full story...

World Islamazation

In the United States I've witnessed the rapid disinterest/concern for the goals of Radical Islam.  In 2001, the citizens of our great nation were awakened from a slumber with the realization that an entire religion had declared war on them.  And now, seven years later, I fear many of us have fallen asleep again.

It could be the weariness of war, it might be the fact that since that September day in 2001 we've not experienced any such threats due to the vigilance of our government...for which we should all be grateful.  But I've had many conversations in my travels and witnessed several things which lead me to believe reminders of the influence Satan has on the Islamic world need to be available.

Recently a video was created by Geert Wilder called "Fitna".  I've never seen a film that so clearly illustrates the influence of Islam over it's most devoted followers.  The film provides verses taken directly from the book I once followed and believed. The film then provides physical pictures of actual destruction, murder and death carried out according to the commands found in the Koran.  The film was deemed so controversial, many of the people involved with publishing it were threatened by radical Islam. 

My friends...I urge you to watch...however, I do urge you to understand that the film contains some incredibly graphic images.  Reminders of the war that is continually being waged against the free world.

As you watch, please remember to pray for those blinded by this religion that offers no hope, no peace and no rest.  As I've said many times before...I was once a man blinded by the same spirit and had the scales lifted from my eyes because of the love of Jesus Christ.

CAUTION...THIS VIDEO HAS GRAPHIC IMAGES. DO NOT WATCH WITH CHILDREN.  Be patient...it'll take some time to load. You can also view it at this link here. Thank you.

Hamas Legalizes Crucifixion

This story comes from TheJewishWorldReview.com.  Another example of the brutality of Hamas and Islamic Sharia law.

By Caroline B. Glick - Both Iran and its Hamas proxy in Gaza have been busy this Christmas week  showing Christendom just what they think of it. But no one seemed to have noticed.

On Tuesday Hamasa legislators Marked the Christmas season by passing a Sharia criminal code for the Palestinian Authority.  Among other things, the code legalizes crucifixion.

Hamas's endorsement of nailing enemies of Islam to crosses came at the same time as it renewed its jihad. Here too, Hamas wanted to make sure that Christians didn't neglected as its fighters launched missiles at Jewish day care centers and schools. So on Wednesday Hamas lobbed a mortar at Erez crossing point into Israel just as a group of Gazan Christians were standing on line waiting to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas.

Read the full story...

The Evil Regime of Hamas

Friends, it's been so long since we have posted or updated.  We've been traveling so much and have been overwhelmed by what God is doing through Once an Arafat Man.  Thank you all so much for being a part of this and promoting it among your friends.

The book is in such demand, not just in the U.S., but many of the English speaking nations.  The effect that it had on the people is far beyond my expectation.  I guess because it is a "God thing" and not a "Tass thing".  I've been receiving so many emails from all over the world telling me how the book has impacted people and brought a broader and more balanced understanding of who the Arabs (Ishmaelites) are.

The book is being published right now in German, English, French, Swedish, Norwegian, Portuguese and Russian...and more to come.  Arabic and Hebrew will follow this year.  Please keep praying for it.

Now, onto the current war in the Gaza strip...it is so amazing to me how many people suddenly become experts about the Middle East.  I am not, by any means, an expert.  War, any way you look at it, is an ugly thing.  One thing I must say, the world is becoming so "anti-Israel" because of the lack of understanding of the real conflict.  Let me say this, the real conflict is spiritual and not political.  If Hamas could get their hands on the same capabilities the Israelis have, they would have erased Israel off the map a long time ago.  The casualties of war that we see is horrified and expanded by AlJazeera and the like because of their being so "biased".  Don't take everything they show you as truth.  Their goal is to win sympathy for people like Hamas.

I feel horrified by the loss of innocent life in Gaza.  Yes it is ugly, it is mean, it is vicious, but Hamas is the one to blame for all of this.  They put their people in the line of fire and they hide underground.  Karen and I have been there.  We lived there.  We have seen what Hamas is capable of and what they do when they fight with Israel.  They are not as brave as what AlJazeera wants us to believe.  They are ugly, mean spirited evil people and many are  demonically possessed.

The only thing I can fault Israel for is the fact that they have waited too long.  First, they should have gone into Gaza long before this.  Second, they waited too long to start the ground offensive this time.  They haven't the guts, because they haven't their God.

Let us pray for the victims on both sides of this war.  Pray that God will bring Hamas down to save their own people from their evil government.

-Tass