View her stunning work here: http://www.lilytaphotography.com/lilyta-blog
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Introducing Lilyta Photography
Lily Armentrout is a gifted photographer, dedicated wife and mother of two, and absolutely beautiful in front of the camera, as well!
View her stunning work here: http://www.lilytaphotography.com/lilyta-blog
View her stunning work here: http://www.lilytaphotography.com/lilyta-blog
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Jonas Park
Jonas Park is the son of, Jerry Park, a friend of mine. His first CD will be released next week and I invite you to visit the link below.
http://www.ihopkc.org/music/albums/forward/
Sunday, June 29, 2014
The Voice, The Unction
I have included the original source that was given when I read this account in social media. It was posted to The United Pentecostal Church site, submitted by Anita Sargeant. When we hear The Voice or feel the unction of the Ruach HaKodesh [Holy Spirit] we don't have to know the "why," to be obedient.
At times when God moves on us through the Gifts of the Spirit we do not understand why we feel compelled to do a certain thing. It makes no logical sense. Here is an example from Sister Nona Freeman:
“A week or so later, an irresponsible urge became an insistent voice, ‘Go stand on the front porch!’
“’No self-respecting house wife would waste time standing on her front porch at ten o’clock in the morning, with dishes to wash and beds to make,’ I chided the unreasonable inclination; ‘and what could be important about our minuscule porch, little more than an enlarged step?’
“The voice ignored my reasoning and like a broken record insisted until it propelled me to the front door and out onto the porch. After standing there for two or three minutes feeling more foolish by the second, I saw a car slowly approaching and recognized the driver—O.C. Taylor. I smiled and waved to him with surprising enthusiasm; he responded with a slight nod of the head. I continued to wave until the car went out of sight.
“Back in the kitchen I wondered out loud, ‘Now what was that all about?’ I didn’t really expect an answer and tackled the house cleaning eagerly to erase the whole affair from my mind.
“Many years later, when we made a visit to Rosepine (Louisiana) a smiling O.C. came to greet me and asked a question that recalled the incident vividly.
“’Sister Freeman, do you remember when I drove by the parsonage one morning about 10 o’clock and saw you standing on your porch?’ He did not pause for a reply. ‘You smiled and waved at me as though I was the most important person in the world. Why?’
“’All I know is the Lord interrupted my dish washing and told me to go stand on the porch that morning. He impressed me to smile and wave when you drove by.’
“’What you do not know is I was on my way to the gravel pit with my gun beside me on the front seat.’ O.C. dropped his head and when he looked up again I saw tears in his eyes. ‘Everything had gone wrong for me. I decided I had nothing to live for and nobody cared whether I lived or died. I planned to blow my brains out at the gravel pit—then I saw you—you acted like you cared. I didn’t go to the gravel pit; I went to see a man about a job and he hired me. Now I am serving the Lord and for a long time I’ve been wanting to say ‘Thanks for caring.’”
Story taken from the book: “Beloved Wide Spot” by Nona Freeman
At times when God moves on us through the Gifts of the Spirit we do not understand why we feel compelled to do a certain thing. It makes no logical sense. Here is an example from Sister Nona Freeman:
“A week or so later, an irresponsible urge became an insistent voice, ‘Go stand on the front porch!’
“’No self-respecting house wife would waste time standing on her front porch at ten o’clock in the morning, with dishes to wash and beds to make,’ I chided the unreasonable inclination; ‘and what could be important about our minuscule porch, little more than an enlarged step?’
“The voice ignored my reasoning and like a broken record insisted until it propelled me to the front door and out onto the porch. After standing there for two or three minutes feeling more foolish by the second, I saw a car slowly approaching and recognized the driver—O.C. Taylor. I smiled and waved to him with surprising enthusiasm; he responded with a slight nod of the head. I continued to wave until the car went out of sight.
“Back in the kitchen I wondered out loud, ‘Now what was that all about?’ I didn’t really expect an answer and tackled the house cleaning eagerly to erase the whole affair from my mind.
“Many years later, when we made a visit to Rosepine (Louisiana) a smiling O.C. came to greet me and asked a question that recalled the incident vividly.
“’Sister Freeman, do you remember when I drove by the parsonage one morning about 10 o’clock and saw you standing on your porch?’ He did not pause for a reply. ‘You smiled and waved at me as though I was the most important person in the world. Why?’
“’All I know is the Lord interrupted my dish washing and told me to go stand on the porch that morning. He impressed me to smile and wave when you drove by.’
“’What you do not know is I was on my way to the gravel pit with my gun beside me on the front seat.’ O.C. dropped his head and when he looked up again I saw tears in his eyes. ‘Everything had gone wrong for me. I decided I had nothing to live for and nobody cared whether I lived or died. I planned to blow my brains out at the gravel pit—then I saw you—you acted like you cared. I didn’t go to the gravel pit; I went to see a man about a job and he hired me. Now I am serving the Lord and for a long time I’ve been wanting to say ‘Thanks for caring.’”
Story taken from the book: “Beloved Wide Spot” by Nona Freeman
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Following
by Jim Shirley
The Torah is the same Path that Yeshua followed. It is the same path that Yeshua led his original followers. I have said this over and over ... Yeshua was a Torah observant, tallit wearing, synagogue attending, Sabbath and feast-keeping, kosher Jew who observed the seven commanded holy days. Most will agree with me on that. Fact is Most of the Christian Church teach that The Torah is NOT for them. In doing so they have disenfranchised their members and have led them down the broad path instead of the narrow path. Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate." The Narrow and Wide Gates - “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction". We all need to return to Our Biblical Roots, we need the Truth of a purer understanding of Our faith. His Word is Truth, Man has distorted and destroyed His Truth. Many are still asleep, now is the time to wake up. Everyone is walking some road to some destination, even if you seem to be sitting still. You may not be moving in space, but you are nonetheless moving in time, and you will one day reach an inevitable destination, the grave. The only question in that case is whether you will arrive with anything to show for it. Everyone choose either the wide path or the narrow path. Which do you choose? Some think the journey is just for sight-seeing, so it doesn't much matter where they may ultimately be headed. Some just simply have no clue and follow the masses. Why does it matter? Yeshua says in His own words that you are going to find out one day, and then it will be too late. The straight and narrow path is the path of every Torah Believer. It is not a burden another has laid upon you. It is the burden of your own greatness and giftedness that you may sometimes feel like shirking. And that always remains an option. You can always slough off your destiny and join the mediocre crowd heedlessly careening down the path of least resistance. There are also those who want to be on both paths ... no matter how many times they hear the truth they continue to play on both roads. Even though it may seem like you have all the time in the world to change direction, as indeed you may, the way things go, it will become much too difficult to disentangle yourself from all the associations and commitments you will accumulate along the way you have chosen. You just can't realistically go back and start over, much less walk both paths at the same time. There's not enough of you to go around. You have to choose one path to be able to go on any path at all.
The Torah is the same Path that Yeshua followed. It is the same path that Yeshua led his original followers. I have said this over and over ... Yeshua was a Torah observant, tallit wearing, synagogue attending, Sabbath and feast-keeping, kosher Jew who observed the seven commanded holy days. Most will agree with me on that. Fact is Most of the Christian Church teach that The Torah is NOT for them. In doing so they have disenfranchised their members and have led them down the broad path instead of the narrow path. Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate." The Narrow and Wide Gates - “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction". We all need to return to Our Biblical Roots, we need the Truth of a purer understanding of Our faith. His Word is Truth, Man has distorted and destroyed His Truth. Many are still asleep, now is the time to wake up. Everyone is walking some road to some destination, even if you seem to be sitting still. You may not be moving in space, but you are nonetheless moving in time, and you will one day reach an inevitable destination, the grave. The only question in that case is whether you will arrive with anything to show for it. Everyone choose either the wide path or the narrow path. Which do you choose? Some think the journey is just for sight-seeing, so it doesn't much matter where they may ultimately be headed. Some just simply have no clue and follow the masses. Why does it matter? Yeshua says in His own words that you are going to find out one day, and then it will be too late. The straight and narrow path is the path of every Torah Believer. It is not a burden another has laid upon you. It is the burden of your own greatness and giftedness that you may sometimes feel like shirking. And that always remains an option. You can always slough off your destiny and join the mediocre crowd heedlessly careening down the path of least resistance. There are also those who want to be on both paths ... no matter how many times they hear the truth they continue to play on both roads. Even though it may seem like you have all the time in the world to change direction, as indeed you may, the way things go, it will become much too difficult to disentangle yourself from all the associations and commitments you will accumulate along the way you have chosen. You just can't realistically go back and start over, much less walk both paths at the same time. There's not enough of you to go around. You have to choose one path to be able to go on any path at all.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
No Old, No New Testament
I saw this on a Brother's wall, and found it deeply profound. As we all know, the origin of some articles and notes on social media are difficult to trace to the original author. This is valuable information, but at this time the author is unknown. The Goshen Gazette claims no right of authorship nor is there any intent of copyright infringement.
>>>Most Bibles have a page that says "New Testament" between Malachi and Matthew. Mine doesn't because I ripped it out because it's heresy!!! No where does the Bible itself call the books of Genesis to Malachi the "Old Testament". And nowhere does it call the books of Matthew to Revelation the "New Testament."
I think this is a big deal because it's a lie and it's messed up a lot of Christians. Any time believers dismiss stuff from the Hebrew Scriptures with the mantra "oh that's the Old Testament", you see that lie at work. It has contributed to replacement theology. It's one of the reasons the first four-fifths of many Bibles are collecting dust.
When people say and do stuff like this, it's because they've believed the lie of the "Old Testament". They don't realize that Genesis to Malachi is actually a series of covenants, i.e. testaments, all building on each other. They don't understand that according to Paul in Ephesians 2, they're members of at least one of them - he says non-Jewish believers have become members of the covenants of promise. Notice the plural there! They don't read these stories as their own stories - as the stories of the people they have been grafted into. They're just the *Old* Testament.
Calling the writings of Yeshua's apostles the "New Testament" is a lie, too. The new covenant, which was described in detail by the prophets of Israel and involves the Torah being written on your heart, isn't the books of Matthew to Revelation. The new covenant is a person! Isaiah 42:6 and 49:8 actually say that Yeshua IS the covenant. And he said the new covenant is in his blood which was shed for you and me.
As an aside if you're curious where these misleading terms came from, you can thank Marcion - who was kicked out of the church and branded a heretic in the mid-100s, but whose ghost lives on in pop theology today - for your Old and New Testament pages. You might have fun reading about him.
So what can we do about this? Well, for one thing, quit calling them the Old and New Testaments all the time. Learn to call the Old Testament the Hebrew Scriptures, or the Tanach as they're called by the Jewish people. You could also call the New Testament the Apostolic Writings, or something similar. You could also go a little crazy like me and tear those two pages out of your Bible. Symbolically, of course. And, most importantly, you can help correct people's misunderstandings on the issue. Because those two pages aren't really the problem, they're a symptom of something deeper. And now you know the rest of the story.......
I think this is a big deal because it's a lie and it's messed up a lot of Christians. Any time believers dismiss stuff from the Hebrew Scriptures with the mantra "oh that's the Old Testament", you see that lie at work. It has contributed to replacement theology. It's one of the reasons the first four-fifths of many Bibles are collecting dust.
When people say and do stuff like this, it's because they've believed the lie of the "Old Testament". They don't realize that Genesis to Malachi is actually a series of covenants, i.e. testaments, all building on each other. They don't understand that according to Paul in Ephesians 2, they're members of at least one of them - he says non-Jewish believers have become members of the covenants of promise. Notice the plural there! They don't read these stories as their own stories - as the stories of the people they have been grafted into. They're just the *Old* Testament.
Calling the writings of Yeshua's apostles the "New Testament" is a lie, too. The new covenant, which was described in detail by the prophets of Israel and involves the Torah being written on your heart, isn't the books of Matthew to Revelation. The new covenant is a person! Isaiah 42:6 and 49:8 actually say that Yeshua IS the covenant. And he said the new covenant is in his blood which was shed for you and me.
As an aside if you're curious where these misleading terms came from, you can thank Marcion - who was kicked out of the church and branded a heretic in the mid-100s, but whose ghost lives on in pop theology today - for your Old and New Testament pages. You might have fun reading about him.
So what can we do about this? Well, for one thing, quit calling them the Old and New Testaments all the time. Learn to call the Old Testament the Hebrew Scriptures, or the Tanach as they're called by the Jewish people. You could also call the New Testament the Apostolic Writings, or something similar. You could also go a little crazy like me and tear those two pages out of your Bible. Symbolically, of course. And, most importantly, you can help correct people's misunderstandings on the issue. Because those two pages aren't really the problem, they're a symptom of something deeper. And now you know the rest of the story.......
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Recipes for Passover and Week of Matzah
These recipes have been kindly contributed by Ann Nielsen.
Matzah
Recipe Original recipe makes 8 matzah
breads
1 tsp all purpose
flour for dusting 1 c all
purpose flour 1/3 c water or more if needed ½ tsp
kosher salt (opt) 1 tsp
olive oil or as needed
Move an oven rack near the top of oven and preheat oven to 475 degrees
F (245 degrees C). Preheat a heavy baking sheet in the oven. Dust a clean work
surface and a rolling pin with 1 teaspoon flour, or as needed. Place 1 cup of
flour into a mixing bowl; set a timer for about 16 minutes (18 minutes
maximum). Start the timer; pour the water, about 1 tablespoon at a time, into
the flour. Stir the water and flour together with a fork until the dough forms
a rough ball, remove the dough to the prepared work surface, knead rapidly and
firmly until smooth, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Divide the dough into four
equal pieces; cut each piece in half again to get 8 pieces total. Swiftly roll
each piece into a ball. Roll each piece of dough out into a 5-inch pancake,
dusting the top and rolling pin with flour as needed. Gradually roll the
pancakes out to a size of about 8 inches, increasing the size of each by about
1 inch, then letting the dough rest for a few seconds before rolling again to
the finished size. Roll from the center out. The bread rounds should be very
thin. Using a fork, quickly pierce each bread about 25 times, all over, to
prevent rising. The holes should go completely through the bread. Flip the
bread over, and pierce each piece another 25 times with the fork. With at least
5 minutes left on the timer, remove the hot baking sheet from the preheated
oven, and place the rounds onto the baking sheet. Place the baking sheet onto
the rack near the top of the oven, and bake for 2 minutes; turn the breads over
and bake an additional 2 minutes, until the matzot are lightly browned and
crisp. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Lightly anoint each matzah with olive
oil, using a brush, and sprinkle generously with salt. Done in 28 mins Footnotes *Making
matzah breads kosher for Passover requires using special Passover flour that
has been guarded from contact with liquids. The cook is allowed no longer than
18 minutes from the point they combine the flour and water to when they remove
the matzah from the oven in order for it to be considered fit for Passover. Of
course, non-kosher cooks may bake at a more leisurely pace if desired.
Ashkenazic Haroset
8 servings
¾ to 1 cup of walnuts 2-3
tbsp of sugar 2-3 large apples
peeled, halved and cored 1 tsp ground cinnamon` 2-4 sweet red wine
Grind walnuts with 2 tbsp in a food processor until fairly fine,
leaving a few small chunks transfer to a bowl Grate apple on large holes
of a grater Add to nut mixture Stir in cinnamon Gradually stir in enough
wine to make a thick spread Add more sugar if desired Spoon
into serving bowl serve at room temp or cold as
Spread
with matzos.
Sephardic
Haroset
8 servings
8
oz pitted dates coarsely chopped` ½ c
of almonds, coarsely chopped 1 sweet
apple peeled, halved and cored 1 tsp of cinnamon 2-4 tbsp of sweet wine
½
toasted pine nuts (optional)
Halve
dates remove any pit pieces, mix in bowl with almonds, Grate apple on large
holes of a grater, then stir in enough wine to make a thin spread. Spoon into
serving apple, garnish with pine nuts Serve at room temp or cold as a spread
with matzos
Grated
Potato Kugel 6-8 servings
2-3
tbspn of oil 2 large onions
chopped, 2 lbs baking potato peeled
3 large eggs, beaten 1 tsp
salt ½ tsp pepper ¼ matzo meal
Preheat
oven to 350 F Oil in skillet add onion, and sauté over medium low heat
about 10 mins or till golden brown, put in bowl Coarsely grate potatoes put in
Large
strainer and squeeze out excess liquid add to onions then add the eggs, salt,
pepper, and matzo meal Generously grease a 7 c baking dish Heat in over
For
3 mins remove carefully spoon potato mixture into baking dish Sprinkle
with remaining tbsp of oil Bake 1 hr or until kugel is browned and set.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
From the Thread on the FDA
by Ron Haley
There is evil afoot with the FDA, and they have most certainly lost their collective minds.
If a farmer wishes to produce Organic produce, he must jump through hoops to prove that he is producing food in the manner that it has almost always been produced, employing the natural methods, using natural fertilizers and other nutrients, etc. Then he is required to place special markings on his product to prove that he has done all of this.
Now, look at the other side of this lopsided equation. Monsanto and the rest of the money hungry GMO producing companies of the world, may hack the heck out of the natural foods that they, in their minds, must believe our Creator messed up on. They can rip out portions of the DNA, whatever they determine are the offending genes, and then splice into the empty place, genes from animals, other plants, and probably artificially altered genes, to "improve" the produce that they must consider God did a bad job of creating. They may then put these Frankenfoods on the market without a single indication of what they've done to it. You have no idea what you are getting at the market, when it comes to GMO foods. Doesn't quite seem fair now, does it?
There is evil afoot with the FDA, and they have most certainly lost their collective minds.
If a farmer wishes to produce Organic produce, he must jump through hoops to prove that he is producing food in the manner that it has almost always been produced, employing the natural methods, using natural fertilizers and other nutrients, etc. Then he is required to place special markings on his product to prove that he has done all of this.
Now, look at the other side of this lopsided equation. Monsanto and the rest of the money hungry GMO producing companies of the world, may hack the heck out of the natural foods that they, in their minds, must believe our Creator messed up on. They can rip out portions of the DNA, whatever they determine are the offending genes, and then splice into the empty place, genes from animals, other plants, and probably artificially altered genes, to "improve" the produce that they must consider God did a bad job of creating. They may then put these Frankenfoods on the market without a single indication of what they've done to it. You have no idea what you are getting at the market, when it comes to GMO foods. Doesn't quite seem fair now, does it?
Sunday, January 12, 2014
What Does it Mean to "Follow?"
by Lawrence Jackson
A pertinent question has existed for years in Christianity, "how to live the Christian life?" Answers abstractly vary throughout the over 40k denominations worldwide. However, generally accepted doctrine among most groups, states that the only way of assuring one is on the right path is to simply, "follow Jesus Christ."
This raises another important question, what does it mean to: "follow?"
Dictionary.com: (Follow)
4. to conform to, comply with, or act in accordance with; obey: to follow orders; to follow advice.
5. to imitate or copy; use as an exemplar: They follow the latest fads.
Strong's Concordance:
G190: "from 1 (as a particle of union) and keleuthos (a road); properly, to be in the same way with, i.e. to accompany (specially, as a disciple):--follow, reach."
Reference scripture:
Luke 9:59 (ESV) "To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
How many people today has grasp the true meaning of being a follower of ADONAI (LORD) Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ)?
Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) came to internalize the Father's Divine Instructions (Torah) etching these instructions on the heart of His followers as a living example of The Father's will for each one of us. This can be understood from reading the closing segments of the Beatitudes. READ: (Matt 5:17-48).
The Brit Hadashah (New Testament) originate from the TaNaKh: Torah (Divine Instructions), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (writtings) [Old Testament], e.g., "The Beatitudes."
"You have heard it said" - found 11 times in the (ESV)
"It is written" - found 78 times in the (ESV)
If there was no Old Testament, then there would not be a New Testament. Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) taught the TaNaKh: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim (Old Testament)
YHVH's Good News (Covenant) prophesied as an Internal promise:
Jeremiah 31:33-34 (ESV) "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord (ADONAI): I will put my law (Torah) within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God (ELOHIM), and they shall be my people.
34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know ADONAI,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the ADONAI. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) did not come to start a new religion, but He came to redeem and declare the Oneness (Echad) of the Father's Kingdom to the lost sheep of Isra'el to make one (Echad) people:
John 10:25-30 (ESV) "Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name bear witness about Me,
26 but you do not believe because you are not among My sheep.
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
30 I and the Father are One (Echad).”
YHVH Declares His Forever Covenant Purpose With His People:
Numbers 15:15-16 (ESV) "For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute FOREVER throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord.
16 One law (Torah) and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.”"
Deuteronomy 4:8 (ESV) "And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law (Torah) that I set before you today?"
YHVH's Written Divine Instructions (Torah) Becomes the life giving Spoken (Rhema) Torah:
Psalms 40:6-8 (ESV) "In sacrifice and offering You have not delighted, but You have given Me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;in the scroll of the book it is written of Me:
8 I delight to do Your will, O My God;your law (Torah) is within My heart.”"
Romans 15:4 (ESV) "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
YHVH's Covenant Purpose Fulfilled Through Y'shua HaMashiyach (Jesus Messiah); The Living Torah of Righteousness:
Acts 3:22-24 "Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to Him in whatever He tells you.
23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that Prophet shall be destroyed from the people. ’
24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after Him, also proclaimed these days." {Deut. 18:15}
John 1:45 "Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law (Torah) and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) Fulfilling The Father's Covenant Purpose:
Luke 24:44-45 (ESV)"Then he said to them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law (Torah) of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,"
John 12:49 (ESV) "For I have not spoken on My own authority, but the Father who sent Me has Himself given Me a commandment—what to say and what to speak."
Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law (Torah) or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law (Torah) until all is accomplished."
Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) Empowers the Father's Will to Those Who Will Follow Him:
John 4:34 (ESV) "Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work."
1 Peter 2:21 (ESV) "For to this you have been called, because Christ (Messiah) also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS."
Psalms (Tehillim) 1:1-3 (CJB) "How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don't stand on the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit!
2 Their delight is in ADONAI's Torah;on his Torah they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams-they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither,everything they do succeeds."
Without ELOHIM's Divine Instructions (Torah) it is impossible to follow Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ). RETURN TO TORAH!
A pertinent question has existed for years in Christianity, "how to live the Christian life?" Answers abstractly vary throughout the over 40k denominations worldwide. However, generally accepted doctrine among most groups, states that the only way of assuring one is on the right path is to simply, "follow Jesus Christ."
This raises another important question, what does it mean to: "follow?"
Dictionary.com: (Follow)
4. to conform to, comply with, or act in accordance with; obey: to follow orders; to follow advice.
5. to imitate or copy; use as an exemplar: They follow the latest fads.
Strong's Concordance:
G190: "from 1 (as a particle of union) and keleuthos (a road); properly, to be in the same way with, i.e. to accompany (specially, as a disciple):--follow, reach."
Reference scripture:
Luke 9:59 (ESV) "To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
How many people today has grasp the true meaning of being a follower of ADONAI (LORD) Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ)?
Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) came to internalize the Father's Divine Instructions (Torah) etching these instructions on the heart of His followers as a living example of The Father's will for each one of us. This can be understood from reading the closing segments of the Beatitudes. READ: (Matt 5:17-48).
The Brit Hadashah (New Testament) originate from the TaNaKh: Torah (Divine Instructions), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (writtings) [Old Testament], e.g., "The Beatitudes."
"You have heard it said" - found 11 times in the (ESV)
"It is written" - found 78 times in the (ESV)
If there was no Old Testament, then there would not be a New Testament. Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) taught the TaNaKh: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim (Old Testament)
YHVH's Good News (Covenant) prophesied as an Internal promise:
Jeremiah 31:33-34 (ESV) "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord (ADONAI): I will put my law (Torah) within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God (ELOHIM), and they shall be my people.
34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know ADONAI,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the ADONAI. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) did not come to start a new religion, but He came to redeem and declare the Oneness (Echad) of the Father's Kingdom to the lost sheep of Isra'el to make one (Echad) people:
John 10:25-30 (ESV) "Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name bear witness about Me,
26 but you do not believe because you are not among My sheep.
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
30 I and the Father are One (Echad).”
YHVH Declares His Forever Covenant Purpose With His People:
Numbers 15:15-16 (ESV) "For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute FOREVER throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord.
16 One law (Torah) and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.”"
Deuteronomy 4:8 (ESV) "And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law (Torah) that I set before you today?"
YHVH's Written Divine Instructions (Torah) Becomes the life giving Spoken (Rhema) Torah:
Psalms 40:6-8 (ESV) "In sacrifice and offering You have not delighted, but You have given Me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;in the scroll of the book it is written of Me:
8 I delight to do Your will, O My God;your law (Torah) is within My heart.”"
Romans 15:4 (ESV) "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
YHVH's Covenant Purpose Fulfilled Through Y'shua HaMashiyach (Jesus Messiah); The Living Torah of Righteousness:
Acts 3:22-24 "Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to Him in whatever He tells you.
23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that Prophet shall be destroyed from the people. ’
24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after Him, also proclaimed these days." {Deut. 18:15}
John 1:45 "Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law (Torah) and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) Fulfilling The Father's Covenant Purpose:
Luke 24:44-45 (ESV)"Then he said to them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law (Torah) of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,"
John 12:49 (ESV) "For I have not spoken on My own authority, but the Father who sent Me has Himself given Me a commandment—what to say and what to speak."
Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law (Torah) or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law (Torah) until all is accomplished."
Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) Empowers the Father's Will to Those Who Will Follow Him:
John 4:34 (ESV) "Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work."
1 Peter 2:21 (ESV) "For to this you have been called, because Christ (Messiah) also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS."
Psalms (Tehillim) 1:1-3 (CJB) "How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don't stand on the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit!
2 Their delight is in ADONAI's Torah;on his Torah they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams-they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither,everything they do succeeds."
Without ELOHIM's Divine Instructions (Torah) it is impossible to follow Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ). RETURN TO TORAH!
Sunday, January 5, 2014
END-TIME-ALERT ! WARNING !...
by William Ben-Carl
A GREAT DECEPTION & CAUSE OF DIVISION FROM THE ENEMY is going on as we speak in the Body of Messiah, even among certain 'Messianic/Hebraic' leadership/teachers !...
Why it is 'deceptive' is because this development being promoted does indeed have an important 'truth' attached to it; but along with that 'truth' are also serious veiled falsehoods-(please read all the following carefully to see if you agree with these observations):
The first part said is true, valid and important, of what certain Messianic & Hebrew-Roots teachers & persons in leadership saying: 'There are too many that are bitter and rude and even hateful in their talking to and dealings with Christians about what they believe.' - YES, this is true ! - YHVH/(The LORD) Elohim/(God) was very gracious and patient and loving when He spoke to us about the Hebraic/Judaic nature of Scripture, back when we-(and about 99% of all Messianics this applies to)-knew Yeshua Messiah first as 'Jesus Christ'. - Should we not likewise be gracious, patient and kind when sharing with Christian Believers on these things, who are where we ourselves were at...oh so short a time ago?! - Of course we should !
...Okay: So far no problem; but here is where the problems start (read on)...
They've stated of themselves, along the lines of: 'We're defending the right of Christians to celebrate Christmas and Easter'. - WHAT?!!...As if Christians didn't have that right already? - While sounding like they are the defenders of democracy, and that the rest of us Messaincs are Islamic-terrorists or something ! -This statement of theirs actually veils a much broader hidden agenda when you start examine their comments...
...Things such as: 'You can't prove the Christmas tree is pagan, nor prove that Christmas has pagan roots; it's doubtful that the name 'Easter' is pagan in origin; they aren't practicing paganism in their mind, so even if these things had a pagan origin, it doesn't make any difference now; you have no right to tell them they're in the wrong in any way, and in fact, what they are doing is perfectly alright and God doesn't mind these added traditions of man, even if they were once pagan traditions; etc....' - and on and on it goes !!
...FIRST OF ALL, LET ME CLARIFY THE FOLLOWING: While there is nothing wrong with heart-felt joy and thanksgiving of the birth of Messiah and His Resurrection ! And most all of Messianics/Hebraic-Believers celebrate these things too, just doing so according to the Biblical calendar on the Holy Days of YHVH mentioned in Scripture. - HOWEVER: No amount of false-worldly tolerance for the sake of a non-Scriptural form of 'unification'-(verses unity of the Faith), can erase the fact that these elements ARE/WERE pagan in origin, &/or are man-made additions to Scriptural forms of worship. - One doesn't solve the problem of trying to get people to be more loving by denying facts ! - One doesn't improve the unity of the Brethren in the Faith, by demanding others remain silent and not point out error (as they are led to do so by the Ruach-Kodesh/Holy-Spirit) of YHVH), or by denying that error even exists...when it does-(exist)! - Solving a rising crime rate, by legalizing the infractions (or denying any problem exists), might seem like it solves the problem, but it doesn't ! - And that is the same mentality at work here !
That these things DO have a pagan origin is beyond dispute-(secular encyclopedias, Judaic references, historical quotations, even the records from the 4th century AD Nicean Council, and early Catholic commentary, all show this to be the case !). So...To have this 'Messianic/Hebraic group' then question that the name 'easter', easter-bunnies, Christmas trees, yule logs, wreaths, overt-commercialism, and celebrations dates chosen by the Catholic church in the 4th century to coincide with solar pagan celebrations - are either not pagan, or that they are pleasing to YHVH, is not only dishonest, it is completely disillusional ! - YES ! We must not be condemning in our apologias, and YES there is sincere heartfelt praise and worship on the part of many in Christianity over the birth and resurrection of Messiah - BUT...saying because these things are no longer pagan in the minds of those who practice them, does NOT mean they still aren't pagan practices ! - When the children of Israel during part of their history had lost and forgotten a portion of YHVH's Word, and were doing things in their own way, YHVH didn't say: 'That's fine, what your doing is right in your own mind, we'll just over look it then, you don't have to do things My way, your way is fine' !! - NO! - Instead He restored to them the portion of His Word they'd lost, the people repented, and they started doing things YHVH's way. - Now granted: YHVH was very patient and gracious to them, as what they were doing they had done in ignorance, but He still CORRECTED them, and didn't just let them continue on in their own error, saying it was alright for them to continue doing so ! ...But that is what this new group would have you believe!
"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." - Luke 12:48.
...I have far more compassion, for the Christian or the non-Believing Jew, who does what they do unknowingly - than I do for the Messianic/Hebraic 'teacher' who advocates &/or tries to justify the ignorant remaining blind in their error !
And when many of us FIRST tried to politely-(and the majority were polite) question these contentious 'Messianic/Hebraic'-groups/teachers/leaders stances directly with them...*We were spoken down to, mocked, and de-friended and even blocked ! - And so then when *we-(being quite upset about all this, and yes: we in turn then did became a little sarcastic perhaps)-discussed these errors and the callous treatment of us on their part, we are further ridiculed again by them in public !! - In exactly the same way they accuse us of doing to Christians!...And all this is very ironic, as most of us agreed with them in the first place on the need for all of us to be loving, patient, and kind when speaking to Christians on these matters !
*[NOTE: We referring in general to the group of people who were specifically treated in these types of ways].
Does 'unification' trump 'Truth'?...NEVER! Does demanded silence in the face of error please YHVH?...Only on those occasions where HE Himself might tell you to remain silent - but NEVER at the bidding of man to do so !
...Many are the teachers now, popping up from various factions of Believers-(Christian, Messianic, & Hebraic)-who are teaching compromise with the world - who give an excuse to those practicing those things YHVH in Scripture speaks against, by their saying: 'They aren't in error because they are in ignorance, or it's their culture, or those sinning don't regard what they are doing as wrong so it's okay.' - But what does Scripture says:
"And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." - Luke 12:47-48.
...So then: These false-teachers that teach that the unknowing are (in any way) okay remaining in their practicing of sin...are only right in this one regard: That the ignorant will fare better in Judgment than these same 'teachers' who knew better !!
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least Commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven..." - Matthew 5:19a.
A GREAT DECEPTION & CAUSE OF DIVISION FROM THE ENEMY is going on as we speak in the Body of Messiah, even among certain 'Messianic/Hebraic' leadership/teachers !...
Why it is 'deceptive' is because this development being promoted does indeed have an important 'truth' attached to it; but along with that 'truth' are also serious veiled falsehoods-(please read all the following carefully to see if you agree with these observations):
The first part said is true, valid and important, of what certain Messianic & Hebrew-Roots teachers & persons in leadership saying: 'There are too many that are bitter and rude and even hateful in their talking to and dealings with Christians about what they believe.' - YES, this is true ! - YHVH/(The LORD) Elohim/(God) was very gracious and patient and loving when He spoke to us about the Hebraic/Judaic nature of Scripture, back when we-(and about 99% of all Messianics this applies to)-knew Yeshua Messiah first as 'Jesus Christ'. - Should we not likewise be gracious, patient and kind when sharing with Christian Believers on these things, who are where we ourselves were at...oh so short a time ago?! - Of course we should !
...Okay: So far no problem; but here is where the problems start (read on)...
They've stated of themselves, along the lines of: 'We're defending the right of Christians to celebrate Christmas and Easter'. - WHAT?!!...As if Christians didn't have that right already? - While sounding like they are the defenders of democracy, and that the rest of us Messaincs are Islamic-terrorists or something ! -This statement of theirs actually veils a much broader hidden agenda when you start examine their comments...
...Things such as: 'You can't prove the Christmas tree is pagan, nor prove that Christmas has pagan roots; it's doubtful that the name 'Easter' is pagan in origin; they aren't practicing paganism in their mind, so even if these things had a pagan origin, it doesn't make any difference now; you have no right to tell them they're in the wrong in any way, and in fact, what they are doing is perfectly alright and God doesn't mind these added traditions of man, even if they were once pagan traditions; etc....' - and on and on it goes !!
...FIRST OF ALL, LET ME CLARIFY THE FOLLOWING: While there is nothing wrong with heart-felt joy and thanksgiving of the birth of Messiah and His Resurrection ! And most all of Messianics/Hebraic-Believers celebrate these things too, just doing so according to the Biblical calendar on the Holy Days of YHVH mentioned in Scripture. - HOWEVER: No amount of false-worldly tolerance for the sake of a non-Scriptural form of 'unification'-(verses unity of the Faith), can erase the fact that these elements ARE/WERE pagan in origin, &/or are man-made additions to Scriptural forms of worship. - One doesn't solve the problem of trying to get people to be more loving by denying facts ! - One doesn't improve the unity of the Brethren in the Faith, by demanding others remain silent and not point out error (as they are led to do so by the Ruach-Kodesh/Holy-Spirit) of YHVH), or by denying that error even exists...when it does-(exist)! - Solving a rising crime rate, by legalizing the infractions (or denying any problem exists), might seem like it solves the problem, but it doesn't ! - And that is the same mentality at work here !
That these things DO have a pagan origin is beyond dispute-(secular encyclopedias, Judaic references, historical quotations, even the records from the 4th century AD Nicean Council, and early Catholic commentary, all show this to be the case !). So...To have this 'Messianic/Hebraic group' then question that the name 'easter', easter-bunnies, Christmas trees, yule logs, wreaths, overt-commercialism, and celebrations dates chosen by the Catholic church in the 4th century to coincide with solar pagan celebrations - are either not pagan, or that they are pleasing to YHVH, is not only dishonest, it is completely disillusional ! - YES ! We must not be condemning in our apologias, and YES there is sincere heartfelt praise and worship on the part of many in Christianity over the birth and resurrection of Messiah - BUT...saying because these things are no longer pagan in the minds of those who practice them, does NOT mean they still aren't pagan practices ! - When the children of Israel during part of their history had lost and forgotten a portion of YHVH's Word, and were doing things in their own way, YHVH didn't say: 'That's fine, what your doing is right in your own mind, we'll just over look it then, you don't have to do things My way, your way is fine' !! - NO! - Instead He restored to them the portion of His Word they'd lost, the people repented, and they started doing things YHVH's way. - Now granted: YHVH was very patient and gracious to them, as what they were doing they had done in ignorance, but He still CORRECTED them, and didn't just let them continue on in their own error, saying it was alright for them to continue doing so ! ...But that is what this new group would have you believe!
"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." - Luke 12:48.
...I have far more compassion, for the Christian or the non-Believing Jew, who does what they do unknowingly - than I do for the Messianic/Hebraic 'teacher' who advocates &/or tries to justify the ignorant remaining blind in their error !
And when many of us FIRST tried to politely-(and the majority were polite) question these contentious 'Messianic/Hebraic'-groups/teachers/leaders stances directly with them...*We were spoken down to, mocked, and de-friended and even blocked ! - And so then when *we-(being quite upset about all this, and yes: we in turn then did became a little sarcastic perhaps)-discussed these errors and the callous treatment of us on their part, we are further ridiculed again by them in public !! - In exactly the same way they accuse us of doing to Christians!...And all this is very ironic, as most of us agreed with them in the first place on the need for all of us to be loving, patient, and kind when speaking to Christians on these matters !
*[NOTE: We referring in general to the group of people who were specifically treated in these types of ways].
Does 'unification' trump 'Truth'?...NEVER! Does demanded silence in the face of error please YHVH?...Only on those occasions where HE Himself might tell you to remain silent - but NEVER at the bidding of man to do so !
...Many are the teachers now, popping up from various factions of Believers-(Christian, Messianic, & Hebraic)-who are teaching compromise with the world - who give an excuse to those practicing those things YHVH in Scripture speaks against, by their saying: 'They aren't in error because they are in ignorance, or it's their culture, or those sinning don't regard what they are doing as wrong so it's okay.' - But what does Scripture says:
"And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." - Luke 12:47-48.
...So then: These false-teachers that teach that the unknowing are (in any way) okay remaining in their practicing of sin...are only right in this one regard: That the ignorant will fare better in Judgment than these same 'teachers' who knew better !!
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least Commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven..." - Matthew 5:19a.
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