For “Scripture Sunday”:
What was Jesus doing for you in the fall of 30 A.D.?
“Nearly 2,000 years ago this October, our Savior Jesus Christ set us an example of power and courage. Despite living in a world that rejected Him, He openly celebrated a timeless Festival that is established forever. What is this joyous event and what does it mean for you?
If one reads about an event in the Bible that all nations would one day be required by God to observe, wouldn't it make sense to find out more about it now? Here's a sometimes overlooked biblical fact: The Bible tells us in Zechariah 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. See All... that everyone in the coming Kingdom of God will observe the biblical Festival of Tabernacles and worship Jesus Christ there as King.
And no surprise, as Jesus Himself observed this Festival while living on the earth nearly 2,000 years ago (John 7:2-52 [2] Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. See All...).
So what exactly is this Festival of Tabernacles?
The biblical Festival (or Feast) of Tabernacles occurs in the fall (as reckoned in the northern hemisphere), and serves as the capstone of the seven annual Holy Day seasons revealed by God (Leviticus 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. See All...). As the seventh chapter of John eloquently and powerfully confirms, Jesus observed this Festival Himself, setting an example for His 21st century disciples.
Jesus declared that His Church—people who actually followed His commands and example—would never cease to exist (Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. See All...).
That declaration continues to be fulfilled today, as a "little flock" (Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. See All...)—multiple thousands of Christians—are gathering this fall. They are assembling to observe the same biblical festival that Jesus kept in a very high profile way just a few months before His crucifixion.
Why Keep the Festival in the 21st Century?
As these Christians observe the Festival of Tabernacles today , you may wonder why this ancient event is relevant in a digital age. When the Holy Day seasons were first openly revealed to humanity, the Israelites would take palm and tree fronds to build temporary dwellings (Leviticus 23:30 See All...). In Hebrew, the Festival of Tabernacles is literally called "the Festival of Booths" ( Sukkot in Hebrew).
Today, in the spirit of those temporary dwellings, Christians observe the Festival outside of their regular homes, travelling to cities and meeting places around the globe. There they celebrate the fact that our fragile lives are but temporary, and that we look to a new life of eternal service beginning in the coming Kingdom of God!
This joyous Kingdom of God, which Jesus and the apostles referred to more than 100 times in the New Testament, will be a time of great peace and prosperity. What is your priority as a Christian in your day-to-day affairs? Your Savior and future King declares to you and me: "Seek first the Kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. See All...).
So if this Festival of Tabernacles pictures the coming Kingdom of God, when Jesus Christ will have returned to this earth to rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:15-16 [15] And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. See All...), what about the other six Holy Day seasons of God?
A personal prophecy for you
The entire seven Holy Day seasons of God represent nothing short of God's amazing and wonderful plan for all of humanity! The incredible truth? These biblical seasons represent a personal prophecy for you, your family, your friends—literally all who have ever lived or who will live. (This is all explained in detail in our free booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for all Mankind . If you don't have a copy, order one today, or download it free).
The first three—the Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost—have collectively opened the door to salvation and spiritual understanding for Christians today. The four remaining holy day seasons –the Festival of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Festival of Tabernacles and the celebration of the Eighth Day (also known to some as the Last Great Day) —represent an intense and happy vision for us. They picture a time of profound "gladness and joy" when God will directly intervene globally in human affairs, "and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
See All...). They represent a time of great globe-encircling peace!
No wonder Jesus was unafraid to openly keep the Festival of Tabernacles some 2,000 years ago, despite open death threats. No wonder He assertively made breathtaking declarations (John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. See All...) and performed stunning miracles (John 9:1-11 [1] See All...). If you truly understand God's plan for you, then you too can say with confidence: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. See All...).
As you read this, thousands of members of the United Church of God are keeping this Festival in many locations around the world . There may be one near you. If you'd like to see what this celebration of the coming Kingdom of God is like, you are welcome to see for yourself. Jesus set an example for all of us in 30 A.D., pointing us to the final victory of God pictured in the joyous Festival of Tabernacles.” From: http://www.ucg.org/blog/what-was-jesus-doing-for-you-fall-30-ad/
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Jelly is Dreaming of the Kingdom
“It's time for the Feast of Tabernacles! The Feast gets Jelly dreaming of a world of peace and harmony after Jesus Christ returns to establish the wonderful Kingdom of God. (Isaiah 11:6 See All..., Leviticus 23:29-43 See All...)”
Jelly is Dreaming of the Kingdom Lyrics at: http://www.ucg.org/ucg-short-film/gods-holy-days/jelly-dreaming-kingdom/
Download the children's choir arrangement of Dreaming of the Kingdom and other children's choir songs by Mark Graham .
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The Blessing of the Feast of Tabernacles
“All around the world, faithful Christians are preparing to celebrate the great Feast that Jesus Christ and the apostles observed 2,000 years ago. This is the same Feast that all of the world will learn to celebrate in the coming Kingdom of God. The Feast of Tabernacles is a joyous celebration. It is also a commanded assembly that true Christians continue to observe. What is the Feast of Tabernacles? Why is observing the Feast of Tabernacles a blessing? And what does this Holy Day point to?
More at: http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/the-blessing-of-the-feast-of-tabernacles
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More about The Feast of Tabernacles: 1st. Oct is a Holy Day
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The program on WGN this morning:
Christ's Second Coming: Can You Believe It?
Opinions vary widely as to whether Jesus will return or has already. What is the real truth?
Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/jesus-christ/christs-second-coming-can-you-believe-it
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The USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear submarine, is commissioned by the U.S. Navy: Sep 30, 1954:
“The Nautilus was constructed under the direction of U.S. Navy Captain Hyman G. Rickover, a brilliant Russian-born engineer who joined the U.S. atomic program in 1946. In 1947, he was put in charge of the navy's nuclear-propulsion program and began work on an atomic submarine. Regarded as a fanatic by his detractors, Rickover succeeded in developing and delivering the world's first nuclear submarine years ahead of schedule. In 1952, the Nautilus' keel was laid by President Harry S. Truman, and on January 21, 1954, first lady Mamie Eisenhower broke a bottle of champagne across its bow as it was launched into the Thames River at Groton, Connecticut. Commissioned on September 30, 1954, it first ran under nuclear power on the morning of January 17, 1955.
Much larger than the diesel-electric submarines that preceded it, the Nautilus stretched 319 feet and displaced 3,180 tons. It could remain submerged for almost unlimited periods because its atomic engine needed no air and only a very small quantity of nuclear fuel. The uranium-powered nuclear reactor produced steam that drove propulsion turbines, allowing the Nautilus to travel underwater at speeds in excess of 20 knots.
In its early years of service, the USS Nautilus broke numerous submarine travel records and in August 1958 accomplished the first voyage under the geographic North Pole. After a career spanning 25 years and almost 500,000 miles steamed, the Nautilus was decommissioned on March 3, 1980. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1982, the world's first nuclear submarine went on exhibit in 1986 as the Historic Ship Nautilus at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Connecticut.”
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Yesterday:
In the morning, I took Jay into Conroe to pay off a stupid PayDay Loan. His mother wanted me to keep him out as long as I could, as she and her neighbor were packing up all Jay’s stuff that was at her house, and taking it over to his house next door. She was throwing him out, AGAIN!
We ate lunch at the China Buffet, and I also picked up my new prescription driving sunglasses. But it was raining off and on, and very overcast, so I had drive in my old faded out prescription sunglasses.
By that time it was afternoon, so I told Jay that I didn’t have the time or gas to take him back home, and that I was going to church, which was on the way home. He hadn’t planned on that, so I said he could just sit outside the church, but he came in with me, and enjoyed being there.
Jay’s mother wanted him out, as she knew he would get drunk on his birthday today.
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