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?
Sunday, March 9, 2014
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.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
In a Pressure Cooker
by Sharon Manning
Before I had a crock pot or even a cast iron skillet, my pressure cooker was my pan of choice. It cooked fast through pressure and had a rocker on top that allowed steam to release if the pressure got too high. Still you had to be really careful not to let it overheat or it could explode. Then you had to be sure to cool the cooker sufficiently (often by running cold water over the lid) before opening or you could be badly burnt by the release of the steam from the cooker. And I have had a few blow on me.Problems, fears and anger can build up pressure within us in the same way it built up in my pressure cooker. They too are dangerous. I have found only one way that really takes the pressure off me is to vent. That is right, I let the steam off by releasing those thoughts and fears to JESUS 2 Corinthians 10:5 and then thanking HIM.I thank HIM not because it makes sense but simply because HE tells me to.In everything give thanks, for this is the will of GOD in Christ JESUS concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18Note: the verse says give thanks, not feel thanks.Over 40 years ago, I was struggling badly with compounded problems and a stranger challenged me to try for 1 week to stop every time I got upset and to give GOD thanks as an experiment. I did and it really worked. It changed my life.Recently, compounded serious situations arose. One thing on top of another and one involved- who was under the load- was seriously struggling with the weight and hopelessness of it all. Then we prayed, releasing it to GOD and thanking HIM… immediately I saw the pressure lift off of her, I saw a calmness- the very peace of GOD come over her, just like HE promises.Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.How can we thank GOD in everything? Well, I have found I thank HIM for different things at different times. I began, 40+ years ago by thanking HIM for a hurtful situation. Some may say that is not right but I think I was led to do so for GOD used that situation years later to help another just like scripture says 2 Corinthians 1:4Here are some other things I thank HIM for: I thank HIM that I have access to come and talk to HIM and for my salvation. I thank GOD because HE is there for me Hebrews 13:5 ; I thank HIM because cares & even tells me to come vent Matthew 11:28; I thank HIM because HE understands & feels with me & will help cope Hebrews 4:15,16; I thank HIM because HE is actively conspiring to use whatever my situation is along with other things for an end result of good in conforming me to the image of JESUS Romans 8:28,29;I thank HIM because HE is achieving for me through the problems I thank HIM because the situation is temporary 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; I thank HIM for HIS promises & that they all have a guarantee- HIS faithfulness ; I thank HIM cause HE is my Provider; I thank HIM for HIS gifts of faith, and grace all things that pertain to life and godliness; I thank HIM for enabling me 2 Peter 1:1-4 I thank HIM for knowing what HE is doing and for loving me. Zephaniah 3:17 I thank HIM that HE has a plan & is in control. And as Bill and Sharon Olson, dear friends says, I thank HIM for what HE has done and what HE is doing and will do in the situation.Even after all this time knowing the way and seeing it work over and over and over again, still it is not always a natural reaction for me to give thanks when troubles come. For the enemies taunts me. At those times I must make a deliberate choice to turn to GOD and let my requests be made known with the weapon of thanksgiving… when I do, HIS peace always envelopes me!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
There Is a Difference
by Sharon Manning
Slowly working through Acts—in 4:36,37 I saw Barnabus (not his real name but an alias- a nickname given Joses by the apostles because he was such a comfort to others.) Nudged by GOD, Barnabus did what GOD showed him to do- he sold some land and laid the $ at the apostles feet for them to use for the needs of others.But in the next verses (5:1-3) we see a couple who saw what Barnabus did and the attention he got and wanting so nuch to be noticed and admiredthey followed his lead and sold some land. Putting aside part of the $ for a rainy day (not quite able to trust GOD to meet their needs) they laid the rest of the $ at the feet of the apostles but pretended that it was the total sum received for their land. In this they sinned by lying to the Holy Spirit and since this was the infant Church that had to be taught the need for purity even before performance—our GOD, the GOD of truth took immediate action in judgment- to set an example for these new believers of the need for truth.There are many things seen here but what hit me this time around was the total opposite reasons for action in Barnabus and Ananias. Both men did the same thing- sold a piece of land but their motives were so different. Barnabus did what GOD wanted and told him to do. Now to be fair, Ananias may have also wanted to meet the needs around him but his lie nullified the good and showed another underlying motive- that of wanting to be noticed and admired.
I was convicted as I thought on this for GOD brought to my awareness an episode- a reaction within me that showed that sometimes I act to be accepted by man.I Samuel 16:7 Man looks on the outward appearance but GOD looks on the heart.LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, YOU know all things and in this I praise YOU. Thank YOU for YOUR faithfulness to me to expose this underlying sin in my heart. Forgive me and set me free. YOU know that I really want to do YOUR will, to act when YOU nudge me and speak only what YOU tell me to say. Help me, LORD, according to YOUR promise that YOU who calls me will also do it. I ask in the name of JESUS.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
A Disquieting Dream
by Sharon Manning
I had a disquieting dream last night and I still remember it, which is weird for me. So when I took my predawn walk this morning I was taking to the LORD concerning my dream for in my dream I had a grudging attitude that I didn't like. And although the details were not precise, certain elements in it mirrored past circumstances. So I asked the LORD to enable me to forgive what I thought I had already forgiven and went on to say “LORD, It is YOUR love I need to flow from me, please spread it around in my heart just like YOUR word says. Don't let any bitterness remain for I want to reflect YOUR character in all I do.”I was walking East at that time, so I could see the 1st colors of breaking dawn, but felt a need to look back to my house (West). As I did, I saw the Moon: it was round and golden and perfectly beautiful… so beautiful in fact that I turned around and walked West so I could watch it as it went down over the mountains.I smiled when I 1st saw it for I understood immediately that the nudge to turn around was from the Holy SPIRIT to give me an illustration that GOD would favor me and do as HE said if (condition) I would just look to HIM. Why did I think that?Well, the Moon has no light of its own it only reflects the light of the sun. Yet its prominence in the sky and its regular cycle of phases have, since ancient times, made the Moon an important cultural influence on language, calendars, art and mythology. In actuality the Moon’s gravitational influence produces the ocean tides and the minute lengthening of the day. So that although it has no light of its own it gives off light in increasing measure and has a great influence.You and I are like the Moon, we have no light of our own (though sometimes man, like the devil before him, foolishly thinks he does.) But although we do not generate light, we can reflect the light of our GOD and Savior who is the Light of the world by letting HIM shine through us by our obedience to HIM. As we stand in HIS light, we can have a great gravitational influence on things surrounding us. So lets look to the SON and reflect HIS glory…Have you noticed that it won’t hurt you to look directly at the moon no matter how brightly it shines; whereas to look directly at the sun will blind you? Hmmmm I wonder could it be that perhaps that is one reason why GOD has chosen HIS children (those who believe in JESUS John 1:12) to be HIS witnesses by their lives as well as their words. For the scripture says no man shall see GOD and live.
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