John 21:24-5 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things:
and we know that his testimony is true.
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were
written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain
the books that would be written. Amen.
and we know that his testimony is true.
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were
written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain
the books that would be written. Amen.
| Note: there will be links and other lessons as well as meditations available as this website takes form. Also, some of these lessons can be found rewritten as meditations. Consider these DRAFT versions, please! |
When Christianity was sent to the Gentiles (or crumbs to
the dogs) … breaking with Tradition
**************************************************************************************
It was not the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70 that drove the disciples of Jesus Christ from the confines
of Jerusalem to the Gentiles; it was the crucifixion itself that sent a clear message to God that His chosen
people had rejected His Word. That in light of the fact that Christ was crucified at the hands of Rome at the
behest of the Sanhedrin ... a convenience of authority that set the tone in Holy Scripture for all time. It is
evident that God’s intent was to take the nation of Israel from a nation of Pharisaic law to a nation under His
perfect grace through His perfect sacrifice. Yet it must be understood that Israel is God's chosen people.
Matthew 15:1-28
Then Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to Jesus and asked,
"Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they
eat!"
He answered them, "And why do you break God's commandment because of your tradition?
For God said: Honor your father and your mother; and, the one who speaks evil of father or mother
must be put to death.
But you say, 'Whoever tells his father or mother, "Whatever benefit you might have received from
me is a gift committed to the temple"--
he does not have to honor his father.' In this way, you have revoked God's word because of your
tradition.
(To please the institution of the Temple it became acceptable to ignore mother and father (and many other
things) in a vain effort to please the priests, paradoxically to honor God by sidestepping His
commandments. Imagine the confusion of the populace. Do we become involved in similar webs that
please man and his institutions and do not truly honor God? (ref. 37B)
Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said:
These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men."
(Tradition. Is it the bedrock of intelligent change or the stumbling block to any change? Should leaders
embrace and personify traditional values, or should they be mavericks, breaking with tradition and striking
out in new directions? Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for allowing their rabbinic traditions to
actually supersede the express commands of God. The specific issue here was a tradition about ritual
washings connected with the preparation and serving of food. In modern American culture we do not follow
the rigid pronouncements of the priestly class. Yet there are numerous traditions and expectations – most
of which are unspoken – that govern our behavior in powerful ways. This creates tension for believers in
the workplace … they are called to be both sustainers and breakers of tradition. (21B;pg 1663)
What do traditions seek to embody and when do they fall away from, or undermine the teachings of Christ?
Think both world and church.)
Summoning the crowd, He told them, "Listen and understand:
It's not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a
man."
Then the disciples came up and told Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees took offense when they
heard this statement?"
He replied, "Every plant that My heavenly Father didn't plant will be uprooted.
Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."
Then Peter replied to Him, "Explain this parable to us."
"Are even you still lacking in understanding?" He asked.
"Don't you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated?
But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man.
For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false
testimonies, blasphemies.
These are the things that defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
When Jesus left there, He withdrew to the area of Tyre and Sidon.
Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, "Have mercy on me, Lord,
Son of David! My daughter is cruelly tormented by a demon."
Yet He did not say a word to her. So His disciples approached Him and urged Him, "Send her away
because she cries out after us."
He replied, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
But she came, knelt before Him, and said, "Lord, help me!"
He answered, "It isn't right to take the children's bread and throw it to their dogs."
"Yes, Lord," she said, "yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table!"
Then Jesus replied to her, "Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want." And from
that moment her daughter was cured. (6CD e-Sword)
This is a prophecy, as it suggests that the Word will be taken to “the dogs.” The dogs in this case are the
Gentiles or non-Hebrew people. (Who are our “dogs?”) I think Christ desperately wanted His people to
want Him, but it was not to be the case, and He knew it. That, undoubtedly, pained Him beyond
comprehension. It would appear that the common folk probably would have supported Him, but did not
have a clear enough understanding [of Him], and were swayed by the power of the Sanhedrin and other
authorities. They believed their priests … and their priests were wrong.
Canaan was situated in what was Palestine … and later Israel, Lebanon and Jordan (see the note below).
Based on Exodus, these indigenous peoples were originally displaced when Joshua brought the Hebrew
people out of their 40-year exodus from Egypt [under the leadership of Moses]. In regard to what follows,
Canaan was a place of historical prominence, while the indigenous peoples were not considered clean, as
they were swept aside in favor of a ritually pure Judaic bloodline and culture.
The reference to “Canaanite” would have been the identification of that person being from an ancient land
that also had a very unsavory past … one that was notoriously pagan and immoral … in Leviticus 18:26
these practices are called abominations. The nation of Israel was indeed justified in its protectionism, as a
nation worshipping one God in the midst of a God-less world.
That was as true then as it is now. The world is divided into two groups of people: Jews and everyone else.
Yet God was now saying that even those who had once been considered unworthy could be worthy through
the grace of God by believing in Jesus Christ. Even the worst Gentile and the abiding Jew would stand on
even ground, the same hallowed ground, if they believed in Christ. In Him hangs the balance.
Imagine the upheaval, again turning an absolute tradition upside down.
Acts 10:25-28 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at His feet and
worshiped.
But Peter took him up, saying, “Stand up! I also am a man myself.”
And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.
And he said to them, “You know that it is an unlawful thing for a man, a Jew to keep company with
or to come near to one of another nation. But God has shown me not to call any man common or
unclean.” (6CD e-Sword)
Continuing the theme … a woman associated with that lineage would have had a decidedly unacceptable
pedigree: a reputation worse than a Samaritan ... a heritage too unclean to be living under the Law.
(Arrogance? Yes). This woman is engaged in a living parable, understands the nature of Jesus, and has
the strength of faith to persist. She then receives His blessing, which is indicative of a critical theological
change, a break with blessing by adherence to the Law and Law alone … previously the attention paid
strictly to the Jewish people.
Now it becomes apparent that Gentiles are recipients of grace, as well. They will get the crumbs. A crumb
of His grace is more than all the world can offer … there is no greater prize.
Our Lord was sent to the lost sheep of Israel, but being rejected by most, He did as He directed His
disciples to do: dust off your sandals and find a more hospitable place. Those who accepted Christ were
the first Messianic Jews, or those who were to accept Christ as Messiah as practicing Jews. That was the
original idea, as was the idea that Adam and Eve were to live an idyllic life in the Garden of Eden forever in
perfect harmony with the creation. Man’s free will has had the consequence of altering the path of peoples
and histories.
Now it is incumbent upon each one of us to make a choice for Christ. The Canaanite woman is also not
unlike us … requiring a break from the assumed path, being willing to believe in, and proclaim, Christ. She
was willing to take a chance and to follow her faith.
Are you willing to cry out to Him?
What boundaries would Jesus have crossed in current times; what divisions would He have
disapproved of?
What relationships will you try to bridge? Who do you know that needs someone to reach out to
them?
Brief History: The land of Canaan is the most ancient and the most common Biblical designation for a strip
of land that stretches from the sea to the desert and from the southern Syrian border to Egypt. It generally
encompasses what is current day Israel and portions of Lebanon and Jordan. It was here that the Israelite
tribes settled, dislocating the local inhabitants. No residual peoples bearing that extraction any longer exist.
Originally the name was a geographic designation that also served to denote the Semitic people who had
settled there in the long-distant past.
the dogs) … breaking with Tradition
**************************************************************************************
It was not the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70 that drove the disciples of Jesus Christ from the confines
of Jerusalem to the Gentiles; it was the crucifixion itself that sent a clear message to God that His chosen
people had rejected His Word. That in light of the fact that Christ was crucified at the hands of Rome at the
behest of the Sanhedrin ... a convenience of authority that set the tone in Holy Scripture for all time. It is
evident that God’s intent was to take the nation of Israel from a nation of Pharisaic law to a nation under His
perfect grace through His perfect sacrifice. Yet it must be understood that Israel is God's chosen people.
Matthew 15:1-28
Then Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to Jesus and asked,
"Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they
eat!"
He answered them, "And why do you break God's commandment because of your tradition?
For God said: Honor your father and your mother; and, the one who speaks evil of father or mother
must be put to death.
But you say, 'Whoever tells his father or mother, "Whatever benefit you might have received from
me is a gift committed to the temple"--
he does not have to honor his father.' In this way, you have revoked God's word because of your
tradition.
(To please the institution of the Temple it became acceptable to ignore mother and father (and many other
things) in a vain effort to please the priests, paradoxically to honor God by sidestepping His
commandments. Imagine the confusion of the populace. Do we become involved in similar webs that
please man and his institutions and do not truly honor God? (ref. 37B)
Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said:
These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men."
(Tradition. Is it the bedrock of intelligent change or the stumbling block to any change? Should leaders
embrace and personify traditional values, or should they be mavericks, breaking with tradition and striking
out in new directions? Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for allowing their rabbinic traditions to
actually supersede the express commands of God. The specific issue here was a tradition about ritual
washings connected with the preparation and serving of food. In modern American culture we do not follow
the rigid pronouncements of the priestly class. Yet there are numerous traditions and expectations – most
of which are unspoken – that govern our behavior in powerful ways. This creates tension for believers in
the workplace … they are called to be both sustainers and breakers of tradition. (21B;pg 1663)
What do traditions seek to embody and when do they fall away from, or undermine the teachings of Christ?
Think both world and church.)
Summoning the crowd, He told them, "Listen and understand:
It's not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a
man."
Then the disciples came up and told Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees took offense when they
heard this statement?"
He replied, "Every plant that My heavenly Father didn't plant will be uprooted.
Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."
Then Peter replied to Him, "Explain this parable to us."
"Are even you still lacking in understanding?" He asked.
"Don't you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated?
But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man.
For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false
testimonies, blasphemies.
These are the things that defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
When Jesus left there, He withdrew to the area of Tyre and Sidon.
Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, "Have mercy on me, Lord,
Son of David! My daughter is cruelly tormented by a demon."
Yet He did not say a word to her. So His disciples approached Him and urged Him, "Send her away
because she cries out after us."
He replied, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
But she came, knelt before Him, and said, "Lord, help me!"
He answered, "It isn't right to take the children's bread and throw it to their dogs."
"Yes, Lord," she said, "yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table!"
Then Jesus replied to her, "Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want." And from
that moment her daughter was cured. (6CD e-Sword)
This is a prophecy, as it suggests that the Word will be taken to “the dogs.” The dogs in this case are the
Gentiles or non-Hebrew people. (Who are our “dogs?”) I think Christ desperately wanted His people to
want Him, but it was not to be the case, and He knew it. That, undoubtedly, pained Him beyond
comprehension. It would appear that the common folk probably would have supported Him, but did not
have a clear enough understanding [of Him], and were swayed by the power of the Sanhedrin and other
authorities. They believed their priests … and their priests were wrong.
Canaan was situated in what was Palestine … and later Israel, Lebanon and Jordan (see the note below).
Based on Exodus, these indigenous peoples were originally displaced when Joshua brought the Hebrew
people out of their 40-year exodus from Egypt [under the leadership of Moses]. In regard to what follows,
Canaan was a place of historical prominence, while the indigenous peoples were not considered clean, as
they were swept aside in favor of a ritually pure Judaic bloodline and culture.
The reference to “Canaanite” would have been the identification of that person being from an ancient land
that also had a very unsavory past … one that was notoriously pagan and immoral … in Leviticus 18:26
these practices are called abominations. The nation of Israel was indeed justified in its protectionism, as a
nation worshipping one God in the midst of a God-less world.
That was as true then as it is now. The world is divided into two groups of people: Jews and everyone else.
Yet God was now saying that even those who had once been considered unworthy could be worthy through
the grace of God by believing in Jesus Christ. Even the worst Gentile and the abiding Jew would stand on
even ground, the same hallowed ground, if they believed in Christ. In Him hangs the balance.
Imagine the upheaval, again turning an absolute tradition upside down.
Acts 10:25-28 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at His feet and
worshiped.
But Peter took him up, saying, “Stand up! I also am a man myself.”
And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.
And he said to them, “You know that it is an unlawful thing for a man, a Jew to keep company with
or to come near to one of another nation. But God has shown me not to call any man common or
unclean.” (6CD e-Sword)
Continuing the theme … a woman associated with that lineage would have had a decidedly unacceptable
pedigree: a reputation worse than a Samaritan ... a heritage too unclean to be living under the Law.
(Arrogance? Yes). This woman is engaged in a living parable, understands the nature of Jesus, and has
the strength of faith to persist. She then receives His blessing, which is indicative of a critical theological
change, a break with blessing by adherence to the Law and Law alone … previously the attention paid
strictly to the Jewish people.
Now it becomes apparent that Gentiles are recipients of grace, as well. They will get the crumbs. A crumb
of His grace is more than all the world can offer … there is no greater prize.
Our Lord was sent to the lost sheep of Israel, but being rejected by most, He did as He directed His
disciples to do: dust off your sandals and find a more hospitable place. Those who accepted Christ were
the first Messianic Jews, or those who were to accept Christ as Messiah as practicing Jews. That was the
original idea, as was the idea that Adam and Eve were to live an idyllic life in the Garden of Eden forever in
perfect harmony with the creation. Man’s free will has had the consequence of altering the path of peoples
and histories.
Now it is incumbent upon each one of us to make a choice for Christ. The Canaanite woman is also not
unlike us … requiring a break from the assumed path, being willing to believe in, and proclaim, Christ. She
was willing to take a chance and to follow her faith.
Are you willing to cry out to Him?
What boundaries would Jesus have crossed in current times; what divisions would He have
disapproved of?
What relationships will you try to bridge? Who do you know that needs someone to reach out to
them?
Brief History: The land of Canaan is the most ancient and the most common Biblical designation for a strip
of land that stretches from the sea to the desert and from the southern Syrian border to Egypt. It generally
encompasses what is current day Israel and portions of Lebanon and Jordan. It was here that the Israelite
tribes settled, dislocating the local inhabitants. No residual peoples bearing that extraction any longer exist.
Originally the name was a geographic designation that also served to denote the Semitic people who had
settled there in the long-distant past.
God is not a God of Sundays Alone
**********************************************************
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(21B;pg 1857)
Since the beginning the Sabbath [Shabbat] was observed on Saturday. I suspect that it was not relegated
to a specific day of the week, but was the day of rest after 6 days of Creation by God … and when it was
celebrated it was on a Saturday in keeping with Hebrew tradition. This was probably the result of dating
based on the lunar month. No time and place (no box) can contain our God. Man put a label on time, not
God. God is timeless and untethered.
According to ancient legend God speaks to the children of Israel about the world to come.
“Tell us what the world to come is like,” retort the Children of Israel.
And God responds, “I have already given you the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a taste of the world to
come.” (48B;pg 161)
The kingdom of God is in our midst. It is here, it is now, it is heaven, it is forever.
The Christian faith proclaimed Sunday because the 3rd day is considered holy. Holy because it is on the
3rd day that Christ was raised from the dead, and it differentiates Christians from Jews (probably
intentionally) in the centuries immediately following Christ's death.
In that Christ and His disciples were observant Jews it is unlikely that being raised on Sunday was in any
way planned. It is more likely that it did not interfere with the Sabbath. I doubt that Christ intended us to
observe Sundays in particular and to ignore the other six. This is a fork in the road, however, theologically
speaking.
There is a remarkable shift from the Orthodox Jewish observance under the Law and the observance that
Christ's taught under Grace … yet the apparent differences may be more perceived than actual. God is
still God, whether Old Testament or New.
The Bible states that the penalty for desecrating Yom Kippur is excommunication (Leviticus 23:30), while
the penalty for desecrating the Sabbath is death (Exodus 31:15).
(48B;pg 163)
Note: Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement observed from sundown to sundown as a day of fasting and
prayer. (48B;pg 222)
Under grace, note Christ's overturning of legalism in the Markian passage below which reverses the
penalty of death under the Mosaic Law.
Mark 2:27-28 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." (40B;pg 1643)
Mark 3:1,2&4 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered
hand. So they [the Pharisees] watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so
that they might accuse Him. Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do
evil, to save life or to kill?” (40B;pg 1643-44)
Having said that, I need to now return to the lesson at hand … about God being a God of the Sabbath or a
God for all days. The answer, while obvious, is not as well accepted as we might think: God is a God for
all days and the Sabbath is a special day set aside for reflection and observance ... to rest and reflect on
our blessings and the awesome nature of God, His Son, & the Holy Spirit.
The Sabbath was made for man, but more importantly for man to reconsider his God without the intrusion
of other more mundane gods.
The point is this … that while it is important to observe the Sabbath, it more important to take God outside
the walls of the institution of the church and give His healing freely. It is easy to practice our faith in the
confines of a familiar environment being surrounded by other believers. It is more difficult, however, to go
out into the world and to pour out our lives. We know that we are broken vessels, and we are humbled in
that knowledge. It is uncomfortable to be in the presence of the holy. In a crowd it is easy to go with the
crowd, making resolutions, and to pridefully proclaim the good we would do, if only ...
If you give it some thought, consider that Christ had no church building and no place to call home, at least
in the conventional sense. The world was His church and His congregation. We are sent out as sheep
among wolves and commanded to be as sly as foxes and a gentle as doves. Great advice … and
significant warning. Granted, the church is not unlike the synagogue where folks of like persuasion meet to
worship, support, nurture, teach and heal. That is how it should be. We should not, however, mistake
brick and mortar for “the body of Christ.” Yet, it can be all of that and more if it observes certain standards,
placing Christ at its head and at its center. But in today’s culture the church body more often finds itself
pressured to focus on its budget, tax law, constitution, statistical growth and other such issues that govern
and plague any other business. Think seriously about the recent crises of Catholicism.
Prayerfully consider what you worship and where you worship. Always remember to,
Matthew 22:21 “Therefore render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God the things that are
God’s” (40B;pg 1617)
About the Temple then, and many of our churches today:
Matthew 21:13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but
you have made it a den of thieves.” (40B;pg 1612)
And finally, while there is nothing wrong with money, it is always a good thing to manage it rather than
being managed by it. Materialism becomes idol worship like the worship of any other god. In conclusion …
Matthew 22:20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is on this [denarius]? (40B;pg
1617) or … “on this soul?”
In the spirit of discernment it would behoove us all to reconsider these words and their clear implication.
God is not to be set aside for specific days or approached only in particular places. We limit God so that
we might rationalize what is best for us. If we limit Him, and restrict His movement in our lives, then we do
not worship Him as perfect unerring Lord and Savior. We are truly at risk.
Our God is a God for all times and for all places. In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus Christ tells us that if we
lift a stone or split wood we will find Him there. He also says that we are to be passersby. (not
specifically verbatim ... from the Nag Hammadi Library) We are in the world but not of it in spirit
Our God is in all places at all times to meet our most meager needs. Yet He claims no home but our
hearts. Our mundane gods are emblazoned on our stamps, coins, badges and logos … they identify our
possessions And yet, we are indicted by the condition of our hearts. The cross is the symbol of our
salvation, and a risen Lord who defies death and time.
Is your faith a lifestyle? Does that means every day, not just on Sunday?
What is emblazoned on your heart? Is it the cross?
Is your God greater than all time and place? Do you believe that all he wants is a relationship
with you ... a place in your heart?
**********************************************************
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(21B;pg 1857)
Since the beginning the Sabbath [Shabbat] was observed on Saturday. I suspect that it was not relegated
to a specific day of the week, but was the day of rest after 6 days of Creation by God … and when it was
celebrated it was on a Saturday in keeping with Hebrew tradition. This was probably the result of dating
based on the lunar month. No time and place (no box) can contain our God. Man put a label on time, not
God. God is timeless and untethered.
According to ancient legend God speaks to the children of Israel about the world to come.
“Tell us what the world to come is like,” retort the Children of Israel.
And God responds, “I have already given you the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a taste of the world to
come.” (48B;pg 161)
The kingdom of God is in our midst. It is here, it is now, it is heaven, it is forever.
The Christian faith proclaimed Sunday because the 3rd day is considered holy. Holy because it is on the
3rd day that Christ was raised from the dead, and it differentiates Christians from Jews (probably
intentionally) in the centuries immediately following Christ's death.
In that Christ and His disciples were observant Jews it is unlikely that being raised on Sunday was in any
way planned. It is more likely that it did not interfere with the Sabbath. I doubt that Christ intended us to
observe Sundays in particular and to ignore the other six. This is a fork in the road, however, theologically
speaking.
There is a remarkable shift from the Orthodox Jewish observance under the Law and the observance that
Christ's taught under Grace … yet the apparent differences may be more perceived than actual. God is
still God, whether Old Testament or New.
The Bible states that the penalty for desecrating Yom Kippur is excommunication (Leviticus 23:30), while
the penalty for desecrating the Sabbath is death (Exodus 31:15).
(48B;pg 163)
Note: Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement observed from sundown to sundown as a day of fasting and
prayer. (48B;pg 222)
Under grace, note Christ's overturning of legalism in the Markian passage below which reverses the
penalty of death under the Mosaic Law.
Mark 2:27-28 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." (40B;pg 1643)
Mark 3:1,2&4 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered
hand. So they [the Pharisees] watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so
that they might accuse Him. Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do
evil, to save life or to kill?” (40B;pg 1643-44)
Having said that, I need to now return to the lesson at hand … about God being a God of the Sabbath or a
God for all days. The answer, while obvious, is not as well accepted as we might think: God is a God for
all days and the Sabbath is a special day set aside for reflection and observance ... to rest and reflect on
our blessings and the awesome nature of God, His Son, & the Holy Spirit.
The Sabbath was made for man, but more importantly for man to reconsider his God without the intrusion
of other more mundane gods.
The point is this … that while it is important to observe the Sabbath, it more important to take God outside
the walls of the institution of the church and give His healing freely. It is easy to practice our faith in the
confines of a familiar environment being surrounded by other believers. It is more difficult, however, to go
out into the world and to pour out our lives. We know that we are broken vessels, and we are humbled in
that knowledge. It is uncomfortable to be in the presence of the holy. In a crowd it is easy to go with the
crowd, making resolutions, and to pridefully proclaim the good we would do, if only ...
If you give it some thought, consider that Christ had no church building and no place to call home, at least
in the conventional sense. The world was His church and His congregation. We are sent out as sheep
among wolves and commanded to be as sly as foxes and a gentle as doves. Great advice … and
significant warning. Granted, the church is not unlike the synagogue where folks of like persuasion meet to
worship, support, nurture, teach and heal. That is how it should be. We should not, however, mistake
brick and mortar for “the body of Christ.” Yet, it can be all of that and more if it observes certain standards,
placing Christ at its head and at its center. But in today’s culture the church body more often finds itself
pressured to focus on its budget, tax law, constitution, statistical growth and other such issues that govern
and plague any other business. Think seriously about the recent crises of Catholicism.
Prayerfully consider what you worship and where you worship. Always remember to,
Matthew 22:21 “Therefore render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God the things that are
God’s” (40B;pg 1617)
About the Temple then, and many of our churches today:
Matthew 21:13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but
you have made it a den of thieves.” (40B;pg 1612)
And finally, while there is nothing wrong with money, it is always a good thing to manage it rather than
being managed by it. Materialism becomes idol worship like the worship of any other god. In conclusion …
Matthew 22:20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is on this [denarius]? (40B;pg
1617) or … “on this soul?”
In the spirit of discernment it would behoove us all to reconsider these words and their clear implication.
God is not to be set aside for specific days or approached only in particular places. We limit God so that
we might rationalize what is best for us. If we limit Him, and restrict His movement in our lives, then we do
not worship Him as perfect unerring Lord and Savior. We are truly at risk.
Our God is a God for all times and for all places. In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus Christ tells us that if we
lift a stone or split wood we will find Him there. He also says that we are to be passersby. (not
specifically verbatim ... from the Nag Hammadi Library) We are in the world but not of it in spirit
Our God is in all places at all times to meet our most meager needs. Yet He claims no home but our
hearts. Our mundane gods are emblazoned on our stamps, coins, badges and logos … they identify our
possessions And yet, we are indicted by the condition of our hearts. The cross is the symbol of our
salvation, and a risen Lord who defies death and time.
Is your faith a lifestyle? Does that means every day, not just on Sunday?
What is emblazoned on your heart? Is it the cross?
Is your God greater than all time and place? Do you believe that all he wants is a relationship
with you ... a place in your heart?
the gathering
Bible Study Lessons will be updated periodically
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contact me at ... revsean@gatheringspirit.org
| LESSONS FOR LIVING: He is the beginning & the end |
How big is God?
“What is the measure of the stature of the Holy One, blessed be he, concealed from all creatures?”
Such is the question. The following is from Kabbalah, an ancient Hebrew mystical tradition
Note: This is measured in parasangs: each parasang = 3 miles or 30,000 cubits,
each mile = 10,000 cubits.
Try to wrap your mind around these dimensions …
The soles of his feet will fill the universe; their height = 30 million parasangs
(90 million miles).
From the sole of his foot to his ankle = 10 million parasangs (30 million miles).
From the ankles to his knees = 190 million parasangs (570 million miles).
From the knees to his thighs = 120 million parasange (360 million miles).
From the thighs to his neck = 240 million parasangs ((720 million miles).
His neck = 130 million parasangs (390 million miles).
The circumference of his head = 3 billion parasangs (9 billion miles).
“--something the mouth cannot express, nor the ear hear.”
His beard = 11,500 parasangs (34,500 miles).
“His face and cheeks are like spirit and soul.”
“His body is like aquamarine. His radiance scintillates, awesome from within the darkness.”
His tongue extends from one end of the universe to the other.
The width of his forehead = 130 million parasangs (390 million miles).
From his right shoulder to his left shoulder = 160 million parasangs (480 million miles).
From his right arm to his left arm = 120 million parasangs (360 million miles)
“His arms are folded.”
The fingers on each hand = 150 million parasangs (450 million miles).
Each finger = 30 million parasangs (90 million miles).
His palms = 40 million parasangs (120 million miles).
His toes = 100 million parasangs (300 million miles).
Each toe = 20 million parasangs (60 million miles).
“Therefore he is called the great, mighty, and awesome God.”
(58B;pg. 74-5 The Body of God from The Essential Kabbalah)
Needless to say, “Our God is Awesome.” He is so vast that He can wrap His embrace around all that is. I
believe that this Kabbalistic tradition is an attempt to say what cannot be said. And, who knows, it may be
accurate. God is certainly as vast as that, and undoubtedly much more. God begins where our
imaginations end. That’s the best explanation I can possibly offer … it is the kind of dimension only God
can exist in.
Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty,
and awesome God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe.
Psalm 147:5 Our Lord is great, vast in power; His understanding is infinite.
Ephesians 1:19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according
to the working of His vast strength.
Revelation 19:6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of
cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying: Hallelujah--because our Lord God, the
Almighty, has begun to reign! (e-Sword 6CD; Holman translation)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Amen.
“What is the measure of the stature of the Holy One, blessed be he, concealed from all creatures?”
Such is the question. The following is from Kabbalah, an ancient Hebrew mystical tradition
Note: This is measured in parasangs: each parasang = 3 miles or 30,000 cubits,
each mile = 10,000 cubits.
Try to wrap your mind around these dimensions …
The soles of his feet will fill the universe; their height = 30 million parasangs
(90 million miles).
From the sole of his foot to his ankle = 10 million parasangs (30 million miles).
From the ankles to his knees = 190 million parasangs (570 million miles).
From the knees to his thighs = 120 million parasange (360 million miles).
From the thighs to his neck = 240 million parasangs ((720 million miles).
His neck = 130 million parasangs (390 million miles).
The circumference of his head = 3 billion parasangs (9 billion miles).
“--something the mouth cannot express, nor the ear hear.”
His beard = 11,500 parasangs (34,500 miles).
“His face and cheeks are like spirit and soul.”
“His body is like aquamarine. His radiance scintillates, awesome from within the darkness.”
His tongue extends from one end of the universe to the other.
The width of his forehead = 130 million parasangs (390 million miles).
From his right shoulder to his left shoulder = 160 million parasangs (480 million miles).
From his right arm to his left arm = 120 million parasangs (360 million miles)
“His arms are folded.”
The fingers on each hand = 150 million parasangs (450 million miles).
Each finger = 30 million parasangs (90 million miles).
His palms = 40 million parasangs (120 million miles).
His toes = 100 million parasangs (300 million miles).
Each toe = 20 million parasangs (60 million miles).
“Therefore he is called the great, mighty, and awesome God.”
(58B;pg. 74-5 The Body of God from The Essential Kabbalah)
Needless to say, “Our God is Awesome.” He is so vast that He can wrap His embrace around all that is. I
believe that this Kabbalistic tradition is an attempt to say what cannot be said. And, who knows, it may be
accurate. God is certainly as vast as that, and undoubtedly much more. God begins where our
imaginations end. That’s the best explanation I can possibly offer … it is the kind of dimension only God
can exist in.
Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty,
and awesome God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe.
Psalm 147:5 Our Lord is great, vast in power; His understanding is infinite.
Ephesians 1:19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according
to the working of His vast strength.
Revelation 19:6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of
cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying: Hallelujah--because our Lord God, the
Almighty, has begun to reign! (e-Sword 6CD; Holman translation)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Amen.
Interesting commentary in the U.S. News & World Report special edition entitled
Mysteries of Faith, Secrets of Christianity c. 2007
From the article entitled God: The Evidence by Patrick Glynn, pgs. 73-75 (from the book of the same title
copyright 1997).
Preface: Patrick Glynn is the associate director at the George Washington University Institute for
Communitarian Policy Studies in Washington, DC.
“Few people at the time seemed to be thinking deeply about the philosophical implications of this discovery
(about the values of fundamental constraints, like gravity, electromagnetism and other basic unexplained
mysteries; in essence the “why’s” behind the “what’s,” and that these fundamentals are connected in such
a way as to ultimately support & direct the creation of life … and, that would be us). But they were nothing
short of astounding. In effect, the “random universe” was out the window. There was nothing at
all random about the arrangement of the cosmos-as physicists began to see. The vast, 15-
billion-year-evolution of the universe had apparently been directed toward one goal: the
creation of human life … The notion that the whole process could be reduced to the workings
of a single, simple “blind” mechanism was fundamentally flawed … Indeed, what 20th century
cosmology had come up with was something of a scientific embarrassment: the universe with a definite
beginning, expressly designed for life. Ironically, the picture of the universe bequeathed to us by the most
advanced 20th century science is closer in spirit to the vision presented in the Book of Genesis than
anything offered by science since Copernicus. The irony is deepened by the fact that modern cosmology
is the result of extending the concept of “evolution’-an idea once viewed as deeply inimical to faith.’
Note: The bold print is mine, as I thought those comments to be particularly enlightening, as well as the
parenthetical explanation about fundamental constraints.
What is Communitarianism?
In contrast to conventional "right" or "left" approaches to social policy, Communitarians emphasize the
need for a balance between rights and responsibilities. Communitarians believe that strong rights presume
strong responsibilities and that the pendulum of contemporary society has swung too far in the direction of
individual autonomy at the expense of individual and social responsibility. One key to solving contemporary
America’s social problems is replacing our pervasive "rights talk" with "responsibility talk." (from the
website at George Washington University)
Mysteries of Faith, Secrets of Christianity c. 2007
From the article entitled God: The Evidence by Patrick Glynn, pgs. 73-75 (from the book of the same title
copyright 1997).
Preface: Patrick Glynn is the associate director at the George Washington University Institute for
Communitarian Policy Studies in Washington, DC.
“Few people at the time seemed to be thinking deeply about the philosophical implications of this discovery
(about the values of fundamental constraints, like gravity, electromagnetism and other basic unexplained
mysteries; in essence the “why’s” behind the “what’s,” and that these fundamentals are connected in such
a way as to ultimately support & direct the creation of life … and, that would be us). But they were nothing
short of astounding. In effect, the “random universe” was out the window. There was nothing at
all random about the arrangement of the cosmos-as physicists began to see. The vast, 15-
billion-year-evolution of the universe had apparently been directed toward one goal: the
creation of human life … The notion that the whole process could be reduced to the workings
of a single, simple “blind” mechanism was fundamentally flawed … Indeed, what 20th century
cosmology had come up with was something of a scientific embarrassment: the universe with a definite
beginning, expressly designed for life. Ironically, the picture of the universe bequeathed to us by the most
advanced 20th century science is closer in spirit to the vision presented in the Book of Genesis than
anything offered by science since Copernicus. The irony is deepened by the fact that modern cosmology
is the result of extending the concept of “evolution’-an idea once viewed as deeply inimical to faith.’
Note: The bold print is mine, as I thought those comments to be particularly enlightening, as well as the
parenthetical explanation about fundamental constraints.
What is Communitarianism?
In contrast to conventional "right" or "left" approaches to social policy, Communitarians emphasize the
need for a balance between rights and responsibilities. Communitarians believe that strong rights presume
strong responsibilities and that the pendulum of contemporary society has swung too far in the direction of
individual autonomy at the expense of individual and social responsibility. One key to solving contemporary
America’s social problems is replacing our pervasive "rights talk" with "responsibility talk." (from the
website at George Washington University)
| Below is a table that will provide some perspective on the size of things in Biblical terms and the size of God that surpasses all preconceived notions of scale: |
2008 Weekly Meditations
HEY ... DOWN HERE!! 2008 weekly meditations are below under How Big is God? |
Leviticus 18
To a friend of a friend seeking Biblical information about an uncomfortable family relationship that was
developing. Here is what I offered ...
You had a question about Biblical direction regarding relationships and marriages, I suspect between cousins.
The NT says that in heaven one does not give, or is given in marriage, and there are/were indeed laws
(customs) governing a man taking in his brother's wife if he has died, but beyond that the NT is relatively silent
on the subject with the exception of Christ's general direction to love one another. Paul says more in his
epistles, but it has to do with sex and marriage, adultery, divorce and immorality in general. The OT, on the
other hand, is quite specific on what constitutes "close family" relationships that are to be avoided in Leviticus
chapter 18. Basically it says that if you are a man (and the converse applies if you are a woman) not to have
sex with your mother, your sister, your aunt, your daughter, your daughter-in-law, your granddaughter, with
your wife and her sister, when she is on her period, not with another man, or with animals or with your
neighbor's wife.
There is nothing that speaks to a cousin, first, second or otherwise, being "out of bounds" relationally. There
may be opinions on it, and it may be perceived as generally unacceptable from a cultural perspective, but it is
not a Biblical admonition or command. We have to be careful not to bend the Bible to meet our needs; rather,
we should bend our needs to meet the Bible's direction for our lives. There is no doubt that this "kissing
cousins" relationship can be really uncomfortable for certain family members, but I would be wary in drawing
inferences from the Bible. It is better to approach it honestly for what it is: it is not well-accepted within the
family at-large; therefore it may have certain real consequences/repercussions if pursued. But, beyond that
there is no accounting for what brings people together at an emotional level. We already know what brings
them together physically, and that is another issue that concerns making choices strictly at the hormonal level.
It is worth saying that while this may be uncomfortable, it is not specifically a sin, and will not send an individual
to hell. How important is it to pursue? You could end up having it backfire by paying more attention to it than it
warrants. My advice: let it take its course.
To a friend of a friend seeking Biblical information about an uncomfortable family relationship that was
developing. Here is what I offered ...
You had a question about Biblical direction regarding relationships and marriages, I suspect between cousins.
The NT says that in heaven one does not give, or is given in marriage, and there are/were indeed laws
(customs) governing a man taking in his brother's wife if he has died, but beyond that the NT is relatively silent
on the subject with the exception of Christ's general direction to love one another. Paul says more in his
epistles, but it has to do with sex and marriage, adultery, divorce and immorality in general. The OT, on the
other hand, is quite specific on what constitutes "close family" relationships that are to be avoided in Leviticus
chapter 18. Basically it says that if you are a man (and the converse applies if you are a woman) not to have
sex with your mother, your sister, your aunt, your daughter, your daughter-in-law, your granddaughter, with
your wife and her sister, when she is on her period, not with another man, or with animals or with your
neighbor's wife.
There is nothing that speaks to a cousin, first, second or otherwise, being "out of bounds" relationally. There
may be opinions on it, and it may be perceived as generally unacceptable from a cultural perspective, but it is
not a Biblical admonition or command. We have to be careful not to bend the Bible to meet our needs; rather,
we should bend our needs to meet the Bible's direction for our lives. There is no doubt that this "kissing
cousins" relationship can be really uncomfortable for certain family members, but I would be wary in drawing
inferences from the Bible. It is better to approach it honestly for what it is: it is not well-accepted within the
family at-large; therefore it may have certain real consequences/repercussions if pursued. But, beyond that
there is no accounting for what brings people together at an emotional level. We already know what brings
them together physically, and that is another issue that concerns making choices strictly at the hormonal level.
It is worth saying that while this may be uncomfortable, it is not specifically a sin, and will not send an individual
to hell. How important is it to pursue? You could end up having it backfire by paying more attention to it than it
warrants. My advice: let it take its course.
spider lunch
| it is no coincidence that this Greek Orthodox portrait/icon of Jesus looks remarkably like the Shroud of Turin. This was taken in Middletown, OH in 2006. |
| This scan was made from an original digital print taken by Barrie Schwortz in 1978 as part of S.T.U.R.P. |
Church?
or Church?
Middletown, Ohio
Farmington, New Mexico
Is Halloween really scary?
Psalm 88:10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise you?
Proverbs 9:17-18 Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten secretly is tasty. But he doesn’t know
that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol (Hades or hell). (e-
Sword c.2005 HCSB)
Essentially, wisdom without God is tempting and very dangerous. So it goes with the attempt to
harness powers that are un-Godly. Such arrogance can be fatal.
Halloween is a holiday observed on the evening of October 31 in most areas of North America and in some areas
of Western Europe. The holiday is symbolically associated with death and the supernatural. Halloween falls on the
eve of All Saints’ Day, also known as Allhallows or Hallowmas, a holy day in the Roman Catholic and Anglican
churches. Originally a pagan festival of the dead, All Saints’ Day was established by the Catholic Church in the 9th
century to honor Christian saints. All Souls’ Day, a holy day established by the Catholic Church in the 10th century,
is also closely linked to Halloween. All Souls’ Day, on November 2, is observed to help purify the spirits of the
dead. (Encarta Encyclopedia online)
What’s wrong with it? The same thing that is potentially wrong with Ouiji boards, séances, God-less worship and
the like. Leaving God out and seeking what inhabits the darkness can be lethal. Like exorcisms and other
significant ritual, not conducted by individuals filled with the Spirit of God, [we] are left vulnerable to Satan’s
influence. It is not a game and should not be taken lightly.
I have talked to folks who are just not interested in Halloween, folks who tell stories about the evils of trick or treat,
those who love the role playing & masquerade, and those who simply embrace the joy of biting into a free Tootsie
Roll.
While a case can be made for Christianity attempting to lay the template of holy celebration over existing pagan
worship, it should be noted that our God, the Great I AM, preceded all of this. Yahweh came to Abraham to help us
understand (through a covenant) our relationship to Him and with Him, and to make sense out of worship that was
spiritually “all over the map.” God through Jesus Christ provides coherence, focus, and Godly direction. It would
be dishonest to deny the cycle of the seasons and the impact this natural process has on our lives. It would be like
saying that the moon has no effect on the ebb and flow of the ocean tides. In truth, arbitrarily holding Christian
celebrations at the times of solstice and equinox have not been particularly helpful in furthering the cause for
Christ.
Halloween, in and of itself, is not scary and should not be over-emphasized. Harvest celebration rituals like
Thanksgiving, while historically “religious,” can also be easily tied back to pagan fertility rites … but so can
advertising for automobiles and clothes. We should be grateful for the festive atmosphere surrounding the fruits of
a season that combines rich soil, warm weather and abundant rainfall … but keep it balanced and remember that
God is the author of all things; even the things that don’t go well by our standards.
Live a full and abundant life; live for God, not against Satan: it gives the devil credibility he doesn’t
deserve. As with most things, it is what we read into them, and what we anticipate, that colors our perception.
Many of our fears are self-fulfilling if not met with an informed faith. It is easy to get wrapped up in superstition if
things go wrong and are beyond our control for a season. Black cats and toads are our friends; witches, not so
much.
1.) What are your thoughts on Halloween and other such “holidays?”
2.) Is it better to meet life head-on or retreat?
3.) Do you believe in the reality of spirits? If not, why would Scripture mention them specifically?
4.) Do you believe that freaking out over secular festivities actually gives Satan a better foothold?
Why or why not? Hint: consider the practices of good salesmanship.
5.) What are your thoughts on the church calendar? Was Jesus really born in December?
Psalm 88:10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise you?
Proverbs 9:17-18 Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten secretly is tasty. But he doesn’t know
that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol (Hades or hell). (e-
Sword c.2005 HCSB)
Essentially, wisdom without God is tempting and very dangerous. So it goes with the attempt to
harness powers that are un-Godly. Such arrogance can be fatal.
Halloween is a holiday observed on the evening of October 31 in most areas of North America and in some areas
of Western Europe. The holiday is symbolically associated with death and the supernatural. Halloween falls on the
eve of All Saints’ Day, also known as Allhallows or Hallowmas, a holy day in the Roman Catholic and Anglican
churches. Originally a pagan festival of the dead, All Saints’ Day was established by the Catholic Church in the 9th
century to honor Christian saints. All Souls’ Day, a holy day established by the Catholic Church in the 10th century,
is also closely linked to Halloween. All Souls’ Day, on November 2, is observed to help purify the spirits of the
dead. (Encarta Encyclopedia online)
What’s wrong with it? The same thing that is potentially wrong with Ouiji boards, séances, God-less worship and
the like. Leaving God out and seeking what inhabits the darkness can be lethal. Like exorcisms and other
significant ritual, not conducted by individuals filled with the Spirit of God, [we] are left vulnerable to Satan’s
influence. It is not a game and should not be taken lightly.
I have talked to folks who are just not interested in Halloween, folks who tell stories about the evils of trick or treat,
those who love the role playing & masquerade, and those who simply embrace the joy of biting into a free Tootsie
Roll.
While a case can be made for Christianity attempting to lay the template of holy celebration over existing pagan
worship, it should be noted that our God, the Great I AM, preceded all of this. Yahweh came to Abraham to help us
understand (through a covenant) our relationship to Him and with Him, and to make sense out of worship that was
spiritually “all over the map.” God through Jesus Christ provides coherence, focus, and Godly direction. It would
be dishonest to deny the cycle of the seasons and the impact this natural process has on our lives. It would be like
saying that the moon has no effect on the ebb and flow of the ocean tides. In truth, arbitrarily holding Christian
celebrations at the times of solstice and equinox have not been particularly helpful in furthering the cause for
Christ.
Halloween, in and of itself, is not scary and should not be over-emphasized. Harvest celebration rituals like
Thanksgiving, while historically “religious,” can also be easily tied back to pagan fertility rites … but so can
advertising for automobiles and clothes. We should be grateful for the festive atmosphere surrounding the fruits of
a season that combines rich soil, warm weather and abundant rainfall … but keep it balanced and remember that
God is the author of all things; even the things that don’t go well by our standards.
Live a full and abundant life; live for God, not against Satan: it gives the devil credibility he doesn’t
deserve. As with most things, it is what we read into them, and what we anticipate, that colors our perception.
Many of our fears are self-fulfilling if not met with an informed faith. It is easy to get wrapped up in superstition if
things go wrong and are beyond our control for a season. Black cats and toads are our friends; witches, not so
much.
1.) What are your thoughts on Halloween and other such “holidays?”
2.) Is it better to meet life head-on or retreat?
3.) Do you believe in the reality of spirits? If not, why would Scripture mention them specifically?
4.) Do you believe that freaking out over secular festivities actually gives Satan a better foothold?
Why or why not? Hint: consider the practices of good salesmanship.
5.) What are your thoughts on the church calendar? Was Jesus really born in December?
A copy of my original letter to Mr. Froese posing some critical
questions. It will be interesting to look back on this
correspondence in the years to come ... maybe more so for
those left behind.
questions. It will be interesting to look back on this
correspondence in the years to come ... maybe more so for
those left behind.
| He was not a stiff man, or unrelenting ... He forgave; He appeared weak in His submission to Roman and priestly authority, but He was a strong man. His name lives. |
Editorial by Greg Keith regarding a question
asked about the single world currency and the
current economic crisis, i.e. "is there a
connection?" His thoughts continue with (the
bold type is mine) ...
... Now with that as a back drop, You have the "U.S."
which is a corporation. Corporations exist for only
two reasons; allocation of profit and assets,
and/or limitation of liability. The corporation known
as "U.S., U.S.A., OHIO, etc." are no exception.
The original common law governed organizational body
as set forth in the Constitution began borrowing money
to fund it's operations, but as with all loans the bill came
due, and they were unable to repay it (this actually
happened a couple of times).
For forgiveness of their debts and/or extensions on the
loans they would grant 20 year charters to these same
central banks which they had fought to keep out.
Long story short the same central banks backed
the government into a corner eventually and
made them file a sort of bankruptcy (this
happened somewhere around 1917). The central
bankers are an arm of the Vatican directly, but the king
of England is still not gone either. The original 13Th
Amendment banned titles of nobility (Esquire) and the
BAR Association attorneys here in the US belong to is
an acronym for "British Accreditation Regency".
Without telling their subjects (Citizens) what was going
on, and hence being able to stay in political power, a
plan was devised to administer the bankruptcy
while concealing it from the general public. The
onset of this can be seen with the "Gold and
Silver repeal" wherein the true creditors took
that which was of value and began issuing their
fiat currency which is today backed fully by
nothing but debt.
Now, if I owe you for a service and render a note of
debt to you in exchange for it...have I satisfied my
obligation to you? Of course not! Enter stage left "color
of law" and the fictitious world of corporations.
What is actually going on when you use a Federal
Reserve Note to acquire something is that you are
discharging your obligation to pay into the ongoing
National Bankruptcy. This is a benefit rendered to you,
and in reciprocation for receiving that benefit they
retain actual...or equitable title in the possession(s) you
think you own, which is how they gain jurisdiction (or
authority) to tell you how you can or can't use it (i.e.
building permits, license, traffic codes, etc.). Because
the government is self administering their own
bankruptcy on behalf of the creditors, and doing so
within the guidelines as set forth by the king through
the BAR and the Esquires.
It is a fictional world where we pretend we have
money and are paying for, and own things. But the
"money" is actually backed by debt thereby
negating any intrinsic value or ability to satisfy
obligations, and all of the objects of real value (land,
materials, etc.) have already been pledged as collateral
for the existing debt(s) anyway so you can't actually
own them as they have a higher lien against them than
is obtainable by a "debtor" using fiat currency. What
you get is the equivalent of usury rights (i.e. you can
use it in so long as you do so in accord with how we tell
you to, otherwise we'll take it away. If you truly owned it,
rather it be a car, house, land, whatever, how could
anyone tell you what you could and couldn't do with it
so long as your use of the object didn't infringe on
others right(s) to the same free usage of his/her
belongings?)
A fiction cannot interact with the natural realm
(flesh and blood men and women), they can't
intermingle because it's a "for pretend" object, it
doesn't actually exist except for in the minds of
men. Therefore a fiction was created on your
behalf to allow you to interact with this realm and
pretend to pay for things. It's the all capital letter
name on your drivers license, credit cards, bank
statements, utility bills, etc. Anything connected
with commerce will be differentiated from your
Christian appellation by it's spelling in all caps.
Looks like yours, sounds like yours, but it isn't
you. If you think it is try signing your signature in
cursive in all capital letters.
This all caps name is effectively your vessel in
commerce. It is owned by a trust which is evidenced by
the number on the back of the social security card in
red (not the social security number, it's another one in
red, check on the back and see.) The STATE is the
beneficiary to this trust and you are the surety to it.
Which in layman's terms means they are entitled to any
benefits which may accrue from it's use and you are
responsible for any liabilities which may arise from it.
That the all caps name is considered a commercial
vehicle is further evidenced by the document in which it
first appears, the "BIRTH CERTIFICATE". Examining the
document closely around the border you will be able to
find the terms "BANK NOTE". This topic alone could
be a whole other book but if the Lord deems it
pertinent you will see this for what it is, not a
security feature but rather a declaration that the
world has deemed you chattel.
The ongoing bankruptcy will not run forever. At
some point the general public will be brought to
see that their own government has sold them
down the river and pledged all that they thought
they owned which will result in civil unrest. The
world population, and the rate of growth thereof, being
projection ably unsustainable I would postulate that
they will err on the side of allowing the civil unrest to
turn into full blown anarchy whereby the existing form(s)
of government will be unseated and commerce (hence
mass produced food, jobs, etc) will grind to a halt.
Starvation and battles for survival by the masses
thinning out the population, after an acceptable amount
of time or events they will usher in their "solution".
Which will be a more global power and accompanying
currency.
Of course it may well go more the way of a whimper
whereby the masses fail to do anything because
they've been so lulled into the state of complacency
and lethargy they are in now. They may very well
accept the more global forms after merely
experiencing some manipulated financial crises
and perceived threats to their security or well
being (financial and otherwise).
The one thing which is important, I feel, to be mindful of
when contemplating such matters is that although it is
true that yes we are closer to end times today than ever
before, is that this has been true for every generation
past, as they were closer than the generation which
preceded them. In every generation since the
Crucifixion of our Lord and Savior there has been a
sect which believed the "end of times is nigh" (and to
date they have all been wrong pertaining to the world),
Christ says no man knows the day of his return. The
relevancy as I see it is that being as our lives are akin
to being but a "puff of smoke" then our return,
personally, is always nigh!
As for the world, I only pray that the Lord will continue
to reveal what he deems necessary to keep me on the
path of light and out of the darkness. For I sincerely
doubt they will present it as the "mark of the
beast", but if the Lord will be gracious and
merciful enough to not hide himself / Truth from
me then I will be able to see these things for what
they are.
On another relative closing note; If one needs
evidence of an intention to move towards a
global, or more singular currency, I would note
that everything you can imagine is regulated,
right? Currency trading is not! Which tells me they
don't intend on there being multiple currencies
long enough to make it worth while for them to
come up with the regulations.
--4th Qtr,2008
asked about the single world currency and the
current economic crisis, i.e. "is there a
connection?" His thoughts continue with (the
bold type is mine) ...
... Now with that as a back drop, You have the "U.S."
which is a corporation. Corporations exist for only
two reasons; allocation of profit and assets,
and/or limitation of liability. The corporation known
as "U.S., U.S.A., OHIO, etc." are no exception.
The original common law governed organizational body
as set forth in the Constitution began borrowing money
to fund it's operations, but as with all loans the bill came
due, and they were unable to repay it (this actually
happened a couple of times).
For forgiveness of their debts and/or extensions on the
loans they would grant 20 year charters to these same
central banks which they had fought to keep out.
Long story short the same central banks backed
the government into a corner eventually and
made them file a sort of bankruptcy (this
happened somewhere around 1917). The central
bankers are an arm of the Vatican directly, but the king
of England is still not gone either. The original 13Th
Amendment banned titles of nobility (Esquire) and the
BAR Association attorneys here in the US belong to is
an acronym for "British Accreditation Regency".
Without telling their subjects (Citizens) what was going
on, and hence being able to stay in political power, a
plan was devised to administer the bankruptcy
while concealing it from the general public. The
onset of this can be seen with the "Gold and
Silver repeal" wherein the true creditors took
that which was of value and began issuing their
fiat currency which is today backed fully by
nothing but debt.
Now, if I owe you for a service and render a note of
debt to you in exchange for it...have I satisfied my
obligation to you? Of course not! Enter stage left "color
of law" and the fictitious world of corporations.
What is actually going on when you use a Federal
Reserve Note to acquire something is that you are
discharging your obligation to pay into the ongoing
National Bankruptcy. This is a benefit rendered to you,
and in reciprocation for receiving that benefit they
retain actual...or equitable title in the possession(s) you
think you own, which is how they gain jurisdiction (or
authority) to tell you how you can or can't use it (i.e.
building permits, license, traffic codes, etc.). Because
the government is self administering their own
bankruptcy on behalf of the creditors, and doing so
within the guidelines as set forth by the king through
the BAR and the Esquires.
It is a fictional world where we pretend we have
money and are paying for, and own things. But the
"money" is actually backed by debt thereby
negating any intrinsic value or ability to satisfy
obligations, and all of the objects of real value (land,
materials, etc.) have already been pledged as collateral
for the existing debt(s) anyway so you can't actually
own them as they have a higher lien against them than
is obtainable by a "debtor" using fiat currency. What
you get is the equivalent of usury rights (i.e. you can
use it in so long as you do so in accord with how we tell
you to, otherwise we'll take it away. If you truly owned it,
rather it be a car, house, land, whatever, how could
anyone tell you what you could and couldn't do with it
so long as your use of the object didn't infringe on
others right(s) to the same free usage of his/her
belongings?)
A fiction cannot interact with the natural realm
(flesh and blood men and women), they can't
intermingle because it's a "for pretend" object, it
doesn't actually exist except for in the minds of
men. Therefore a fiction was created on your
behalf to allow you to interact with this realm and
pretend to pay for things. It's the all capital letter
name on your drivers license, credit cards, bank
statements, utility bills, etc. Anything connected
with commerce will be differentiated from your
Christian appellation by it's spelling in all caps.
Looks like yours, sounds like yours, but it isn't
you. If you think it is try signing your signature in
cursive in all capital letters.
This all caps name is effectively your vessel in
commerce. It is owned by a trust which is evidenced by
the number on the back of the social security card in
red (not the social security number, it's another one in
red, check on the back and see.) The STATE is the
beneficiary to this trust and you are the surety to it.
Which in layman's terms means they are entitled to any
benefits which may accrue from it's use and you are
responsible for any liabilities which may arise from it.
That the all caps name is considered a commercial
vehicle is further evidenced by the document in which it
first appears, the "BIRTH CERTIFICATE". Examining the
document closely around the border you will be able to
find the terms "BANK NOTE". This topic alone could
be a whole other book but if the Lord deems it
pertinent you will see this for what it is, not a
security feature but rather a declaration that the
world has deemed you chattel.
The ongoing bankruptcy will not run forever. At
some point the general public will be brought to
see that their own government has sold them
down the river and pledged all that they thought
they owned which will result in civil unrest. The
world population, and the rate of growth thereof, being
projection ably unsustainable I would postulate that
they will err on the side of allowing the civil unrest to
turn into full blown anarchy whereby the existing form(s)
of government will be unseated and commerce (hence
mass produced food, jobs, etc) will grind to a halt.
Starvation and battles for survival by the masses
thinning out the population, after an acceptable amount
of time or events they will usher in their "solution".
Which will be a more global power and accompanying
currency.
Of course it may well go more the way of a whimper
whereby the masses fail to do anything because
they've been so lulled into the state of complacency
and lethargy they are in now. They may very well
accept the more global forms after merely
experiencing some manipulated financial crises
and perceived threats to their security or well
being (financial and otherwise).
The one thing which is important, I feel, to be mindful of
when contemplating such matters is that although it is
true that yes we are closer to end times today than ever
before, is that this has been true for every generation
past, as they were closer than the generation which
preceded them. In every generation since the
Crucifixion of our Lord and Savior there has been a
sect which believed the "end of times is nigh" (and to
date they have all been wrong pertaining to the world),
Christ says no man knows the day of his return. The
relevancy as I see it is that being as our lives are akin
to being but a "puff of smoke" then our return,
personally, is always nigh!
As for the world, I only pray that the Lord will continue
to reveal what he deems necessary to keep me on the
path of light and out of the darkness. For I sincerely
doubt they will present it as the "mark of the
beast", but if the Lord will be gracious and
merciful enough to not hide himself / Truth from
me then I will be able to see these things for what
they are.
On another relative closing note; If one needs
evidence of an intention to move towards a
global, or more singular currency, I would note
that everything you can imagine is regulated,
right? Currency trading is not! Which tells me they
don't intend on there being multiple currencies
long enough to make it worth while for them to
come up with the regulations.
--4th Qtr,2008
Rev. Sean's thoughts on "What did our Founding
Fathers really say? What does this say about
them, about us, about a Christian nation?
(Comments in italics)
From Article VI. of the Constitution of the United
States
The Senators and Representatives before
mentioned, and the Members of the several State
Legislatures, and all executive and judicial
Officers, both of the United States and of the
several States, shall be bound by Oath or
Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no
religious Test shall ever be required as a
Qualification to any Office or public Trust
under the United States. (http://www.constitution.
org/constit_.htm)
Note: This is the ONLY reference to faith at any
level in our Constitution, and I think the language
deserves no further interpretation. The fact that it
makes the distinction between religion and faith (by
exclusion) is a statement in and of itself. Religion is
law; faith by definition is relational and dynamic.
Technically, a Muslim cannot be prevented from
running for, or serving in, the highest public office in
the land. Freedom comes at a price. Most of us still
suffer from sticker shock.
From the Declaration of Independence
(Intro) When in the Course of human events, it
becomes necessary for one people to dissolve
the political bands which have connected them
with another, and to assume among the powers of
the earth, the separate and equal station to which
the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle
them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the causes which
impel them to the separation.
(Preamble) We hold these truths to be self-
evident, that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
(Conclusion) And for the support of this
Declaration, with a firm reliance on the
protection of divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and
our sacred Honor.
(http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence)
Natural law, Creator, quality of life, unalienable
rights, and divine Providence, in no way suggest or
affirm a Christian nation. That is not to say that
some, or many, of the men involved were not Christian
by their own definition, but that their declaration was to
allow for freedom from oppression. Neither the name
of Jesus Christ nor any specific Biblical reference
is mentioned or noted, which allows for personal
decision-making. Thus it was intended; thus it has
been.
I maintain that, while many Protestants did arrive on
our shores for the purpose of exercising freedom of
religion (presumably Christian by definition), it was
more the function of how this nation was declared, not
necessarily the intent. If it were truly about
Christianity, then Mormons, Freemasons & Jews, as
well as other cults & organizations, would have been
unable to survive. Theoretically, any philosophy, or
practice deemed un-Christian, would have been
eradicated; but that has not been the case despite
historic racist and anti-Semitic behaviors. The
closest example we have is the attempted genocide of
the American Indian, which was not as much a moral
issue, as one of real estate.
This “freedom from oppression” precedes these
secular American documents by more than one
hundred and fifty years. The issue of religious
oppression was primarily directed toward the
Roman Catholic (4th century A.D.) and the
Anglican Churches (1534). Both were intolerant of
reform, and persecuted heretics.
Keep in mind that much of what we understand about
early American Christianity was not based on Jesus
entirely, but on adherence to a work ethic, Old
Testament law, fear of damnation, and affiliation with
reformed protestant theologies … after all, this was not
that long after the Protestant Reformation (1517). The
landing at Plymouth Rock was recorded in 1622
although early settlers preceded that date. You can
be sure that pagans and other nonconforming
individuals were on the vessels that sailed to the new
land. These folks were either not recorded, or were
themselves persecuted as witches.
A comment from Arno Froese, Director of
Midnight Call Ministries, dated 10/22/08:
You certainly hit the nail on the head relating to
“we are a Christian nation.” The forefathers
believed in God, but so does the devil. The
problem with this philosophy of “Christian
forefathers and Christian nation” is that Holy
Scripture makes no provision for the existence
of such a nation. You are one in many millions
who “see this as one of the largest lies that has
gained increasing support.” (note letter scanned
above)
-- Nov 2008
Fathers really say? What does this say about
them, about us, about a Christian nation?
(Comments in italics)
From Article VI. of the Constitution of the United
States
The Senators and Representatives before
mentioned, and the Members of the several State
Legislatures, and all executive and judicial
Officers, both of the United States and of the
several States, shall be bound by Oath or
Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no
religious Test shall ever be required as a
Qualification to any Office or public Trust
under the United States. (http://www.constitution.
org/constit_.htm)
Note: This is the ONLY reference to faith at any
level in our Constitution, and I think the language
deserves no further interpretation. The fact that it
makes the distinction between religion and faith (by
exclusion) is a statement in and of itself. Religion is
law; faith by definition is relational and dynamic.
Technically, a Muslim cannot be prevented from
running for, or serving in, the highest public office in
the land. Freedom comes at a price. Most of us still
suffer from sticker shock.
From the Declaration of Independence
(Intro) When in the Course of human events, it
becomes necessary for one people to dissolve
the political bands which have connected them
with another, and to assume among the powers of
the earth, the separate and equal station to which
the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle
them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the causes which
impel them to the separation.
(Preamble) We hold these truths to be self-
evident, that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
(Conclusion) And for the support of this
Declaration, with a firm reliance on the
protection of divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and
our sacred Honor.
(http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence)
Natural law, Creator, quality of life, unalienable
rights, and divine Providence, in no way suggest or
affirm a Christian nation. That is not to say that
some, or many, of the men involved were not Christian
by their own definition, but that their declaration was to
allow for freedom from oppression. Neither the name
of Jesus Christ nor any specific Biblical reference
is mentioned or noted, which allows for personal
decision-making. Thus it was intended; thus it has
been.
I maintain that, while many Protestants did arrive on
our shores for the purpose of exercising freedom of
religion (presumably Christian by definition), it was
more the function of how this nation was declared, not
necessarily the intent. If it were truly about
Christianity, then Mormons, Freemasons & Jews, as
well as other cults & organizations, would have been
unable to survive. Theoretically, any philosophy, or
practice deemed un-Christian, would have been
eradicated; but that has not been the case despite
historic racist and anti-Semitic behaviors. The
closest example we have is the attempted genocide of
the American Indian, which was not as much a moral
issue, as one of real estate.
This “freedom from oppression” precedes these
secular American documents by more than one
hundred and fifty years. The issue of religious
oppression was primarily directed toward the
Roman Catholic (4th century A.D.) and the
Anglican Churches (1534). Both were intolerant of
reform, and persecuted heretics.
Keep in mind that much of what we understand about
early American Christianity was not based on Jesus
entirely, but on adherence to a work ethic, Old
Testament law, fear of damnation, and affiliation with
reformed protestant theologies … after all, this was not
that long after the Protestant Reformation (1517). The
landing at Plymouth Rock was recorded in 1622
although early settlers preceded that date. You can
be sure that pagans and other nonconforming
individuals were on the vessels that sailed to the new
land. These folks were either not recorded, or were
themselves persecuted as witches.
A comment from Arno Froese, Director of
Midnight Call Ministries, dated 10/22/08:
You certainly hit the nail on the head relating to
“we are a Christian nation.” The forefathers
believed in God, but so does the devil. The
problem with this philosophy of “Christian
forefathers and Christian nation” is that Holy
Scripture makes no provision for the existence
of such a nation. You are one in many millions
who “see this as one of the largest lies that has
gained increasing support.” (note letter scanned
above)
-- Nov 2008
Stand outside awhile
Stand outside in Farmington, NM
Mesas are ghosts in the haze of an
afternoon sandstorm.
Mr. Goodluck’s flute
Whispers a hollow Navajo melody
Heard high above the dust & desert sage
In a language only God can understand.
-- Rev. Sean
Stand outside in Farmington, NM
Mesas are ghosts in the haze of an
afternoon sandstorm.
Mr. Goodluck’s flute
Whispers a hollow Navajo melody
Heard high above the dust & desert sage
In a language only God can understand.
-- Rev. Sean
Mesas
Loom south of the city
Reflecting the dawn in pinks and fawns
Sunset trapped in its crags
Shadows etched deeper than God’s brow.
--Rev. Sean
Loom south of the city
Reflecting the dawn in pinks and fawns
Sunset trapped in its crags
Shadows etched deeper than God’s brow.
--Rev. Sean
Celebration of our youth
Living our Genesis and leaving it far
behind
In the apple-red knowledge
Of our flesh:
Innocence departed
Gone before summer
Like the cool damp shadows of spring.
--Rev. Sean
Living our Genesis and leaving it far
behind
In the apple-red knowledge
Of our flesh:
Innocence departed
Gone before summer
Like the cool damp shadows of spring.
--Rev. Sean
Clarice
… fell asleep
In the russet warmth
Of a North Dakota sun
Winter squash continued to grow
Undersides pale as clouds
Ice cubes melted
Rising to the surface of her honey-colored tea
Like a halo of blind fishes.
She did not get up to thaw sausages for dinner
She did not acknowledge the sun
as it plunged toward
the horizon
Nor the rise of a perfect apricot moon.
-- Rev. Sean
| a miracle |
God is a verb
Rather than waiting for the Spirit of God to move us, or to move within us, we need to be active and
involved in His will so that He can effectively work through us. As my brother reminded me, “We need to
show up.” There is always the temptation to wait rather than act or to abide in anticipation rather than
“meeting Him halfway.”
God is about “motion and rest.” The emphasis here is on motion. God in all of His manifestations is an
active and creative God. He is not an armchair God or a vicarious God. Just look at the explosive ministry
of His Son, Jesus. Nothing could be more active. The act of dying on the cross, and the act of
resurrection, creates the necessary pathway for each of us to act as believers and to rest in heaven.
Deuteronomy 7:21 Don't be terrified of them, for the LORD your God, a great and awesome God, is
among you.
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
Hebrews 4:10 For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as
God did from His.
1Peter 1:13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined, and set your
hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
(all from eSword c.2005 Holman Translation)
Notice that God acts upon and acts through His creation. Nowhere is there a suggestion that God is
passive or inactive. Being “awesome” can come only from doing something monumental. Being awesome
is not used to describe residents of the sidelines. How many verbs or action words and phrases are found
in these passages alone? Among, seek, save, has come, entered, rested, brought, set your hope, and
revelation (to reveal or uncover)are there in print. The implications are enormous.
God also acts and “moves” through people, primarily through people if the Bible is to be believed. Christ
came among us to work through us for the purpose of personal salvation. Salvation can only come through
Him, but the communication or seed planting is though His children: that would be us. We are His hands
and feet as Casting Crowns proclaims.
Rabbi David Cooper is the author of the book, God is A Verb. This is a wonderful introduction to Kabbalah
as well as a commentary on how our language affects our perception of both I and Thou. The basic
premise of the title is that we cannot view God as a noun, but rather in terms of a verb. There is no “God” in
our lives, but there is “God-ing.” God-ing is an ongoing action that permeates every part of the universe.
There is no time or place that the action of God-ing is not unfolding. The great I Am hints at the verb-al
nature of God. And since each molecule, each quark of creation has the spark of God, we must also refer
to ourselves as verbs. Just as a verb can never stop acting on either itself or its object, neither can we not
act or affect all that we do and all that we come in contact with. This is the whole point of Kabbalah, which
means to receive that we are all about three things – to give to receive and to return to our source. The
rest is commentary. (www.ncradio.us/Joyfulltimes/OPEN/Reviews)
Rather than waiting for the Spirit of God to move us, or to move within us, we need to be active and
involved in His will so that He can effectively work through us. As my brother reminded me, “We need to
show up.” There is always the temptation to wait rather than act or to abide in anticipation rather than
“meeting Him halfway.”
God is about “motion and rest.” The emphasis here is on motion. God in all of His manifestations is an
active and creative God. He is not an armchair God or a vicarious God. Just look at the explosive ministry
of His Son, Jesus. Nothing could be more active. The act of dying on the cross, and the act of
resurrection, creates the necessary pathway for each of us to act as believers and to rest in heaven.
Deuteronomy 7:21 Don't be terrified of them, for the LORD your God, a great and awesome God, is
among you.
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
Hebrews 4:10 For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as
God did from His.
1Peter 1:13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined, and set your
hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
(all from eSword c.2005 Holman Translation)
Notice that God acts upon and acts through His creation. Nowhere is there a suggestion that God is
passive or inactive. Being “awesome” can come only from doing something monumental. Being awesome
is not used to describe residents of the sidelines. How many verbs or action words and phrases are found
in these passages alone? Among, seek, save, has come, entered, rested, brought, set your hope, and
revelation (to reveal or uncover)are there in print. The implications are enormous.
God also acts and “moves” through people, primarily through people if the Bible is to be believed. Christ
came among us to work through us for the purpose of personal salvation. Salvation can only come through
Him, but the communication or seed planting is though His children: that would be us. We are His hands
and feet as Casting Crowns proclaims.
Rabbi David Cooper is the author of the book, God is A Verb. This is a wonderful introduction to Kabbalah
as well as a commentary on how our language affects our perception of both I and Thou. The basic
premise of the title is that we cannot view God as a noun, but rather in terms of a verb. There is no “God” in
our lives, but there is “God-ing.” God-ing is an ongoing action that permeates every part of the universe.
There is no time or place that the action of God-ing is not unfolding. The great I Am hints at the verb-al
nature of God. And since each molecule, each quark of creation has the spark of God, we must also refer
to ourselves as verbs. Just as a verb can never stop acting on either itself or its object, neither can we not
act or affect all that we do and all that we come in contact with. This is the whole point of Kabbalah, which
means to receive that we are all about three things – to give to receive and to return to our source. The
rest is commentary. (www.ncradio.us/Joyfulltimes/OPEN/Reviews)