Sunday, May 27, 2018

Memorial Day: A Day of Remembrance. Why Work? Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Memorial Day: A Day of Remembrance  

“Memorial Day helps us remember those who have died in war. It can also help us long for the day when true peace will come to this war-torn world.

On Memorial Day Americans will honor those who died fighting in the many wars that have marked this nation’s 242-year history. Flowers will be placed on the graves of the dead, and ceremonies will take place around the country to honor those who gave their lives in defense of this country. Prayers will also be offered up for the safety of those actively serving in harm’s way.

As we honor those who sacrificed their lives in war, we might ask ourselves, will war or the threat of war always be with us?

A brief history

Memorial Day was proclaimed in 1868 (three years after the Civil War) by General John Logan and was first observed on May 30 of that year when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. More Americans were killed fighting the Civil War than both world wars combined.

After World War I the holiday was changed to honor Americans who died fighting in any war. It is now celebrated on the last Monday in May.

Most have deep respect for those young men and women who willingly laid their lives on the line for the security of their families and country.

Sometimes in today’s ungodly world, it seems that there is no alternative to war.

A terrible toll

Though war is glorified in movies and video games, in reality it exacts a terrible toll on nations as well as individuals”

Continue Reading  at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/memorial-day-a-day-of-remembrance/

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Why Work?

“It is important to work so that we can provide, but what other reason is there for our labor?

YouTube: https://youtu.be/R_necpnsT_0

Transcript

[Steve Myers] “Why do you work? Well, most of us would certainly answer the question, well, I need to provide. I need to provide for myself, I need to provide for my family, I’ve got bills to pay, I’ve gotta take care of my mortgage or my rent, I’ve gotta put food on the table. Those are the normal answers and those are all good things, we do need to provide. God says that we’re supposed to do that, if we don’t provide for our own Paul told Timothy, “We’re worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8)

So we do have to provide, but is that the only reason why we work? The Apostle Paul gives us some insight into an important reason that may not normally come to mind, and it’s over in the book of Ephesians 4:28. He’s giving some instructions on how we can be more Christ-like, how we need to grow more Godly in our character and he says, “Let him who stole steal no more, but rather let him labor.”

So we do need to work, we need to work and take care of ourselves, we can’t have dishonest gain. Can’t have it that way. So he says, “Working with his own hands what is good,” so there’s that concept I’ve gotta put food on the table, I’ve gotta pay the rent those kinds of things. But then he concludes the thought by saying that “He may have something to give him who has need.” So he’s expanding this idea of why do we work? Is it only for selfish reasons? Is it only to put bread on the table? Is it only to pay the rent? You see the Apostle Paul saying, “An important reason we work is to give, and to share, and to fill others’ needs.”

And so we see in a sense the working of the commandments here that first as a Christian I have to provide for my own family. I have to love God, provide for my own. But he also says I have to provide for others and help others that are in need, so it’s that fulfilling of the commandment, love my neighbor. Love my neighbor as myself. So let’s remember this principle that we need to work and then recognize the fact I have to help others, I should serve others, I should certainly work also in order to give to him who has need.””  From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/memorial-day-a-day-of-remembrance/

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Update

Zach helped me a couple of times this week, but he doesn’t eat right and often gets sick.  He is 40, yes, forty years younger than I am, and is in terrible shape.  He gets overheated and tired very easily. He only eats processed, or fried food, hardly any veggies or anything with antioxidents in it. https://www.sharecare.com/health/antioxidants/a-good-antioxidant-for-me    And he drinks a lot of sodas.  You can’t run your body like that, just like you can’t run your car on water.  YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT, AND WHAT IT ATE !!  Food is your only fuel, so eat what is right.

He pressure-washed the side fence while I cut down any weeds that might get in his way.  My houses are on a corner at the front of the subdivision so I originally had two border fences.  They (The Property Owners Assn.) said that I could keep the side fence if I maintained it.  They said that about my back yard fence which borders the front of the subdivision, but some silly sod that was working for them took that fence down without even bringing it up at a meeting.   So I have no fence between my houses and the main road behind me now.  The new board says that they will replace it with a better fence.  We will see!  Anyway, in the mean time we are working on the side fence.  As long as it looks good, maybe they will leave it alone.

We also hung the kitchen door back up in the mini-house.  We had taken it down to paint the jam to match the other doorways.  Zack tires so easily that we have to quit early. 

A feral mama cat had her kittens here, and they are so cute, three orange and two gray tabbies.  They run and hide when they see anyone coming, but one little orange bobtail one lets me pet him.  How do I know it is a him?  Because most orange tabbies are males.  The mama has moved them again, I don’t know where they are now, but I have been leaving food out for her as it must be difficult for her to make milk for five babies.  When I know where the babies are, I will catch them and trap her, then they can get spayed or neutered.  EVERY LITTER BIT HURTS.

My granddaughter, Michelle, from my son’s side, came to see me so that we could discuss getting all this stuff and this place sold, but no plan of action has been decided yet.  She wanted all the ribbons and stuff that I got when I was showing dogs, and as I have no more use for them, I gave them to her, along with my vintage Schwinn.

The broken church kitchen fridge was replaced so I took some of their stuff back.  I had to stop at the Post Office on the way, so I could only take what could be kept in insulated container with packs of dry ice.  The ‘new’ fridge isn’t as big as the old one, but it was donated, so we didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.  I made a Chinese dish with grass-fed Angus beef, baby corn, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, snow peas, carrots, onion, etc.  and another crockpot of brown rice.  We also had chicken salad, butter beans, beef and penne, broccoli, sweet potatoes, several gooey pies and fruit pies.

The Bible readings were Lev. 25:1-26:2, Jer. 32:6-27 and Luke 4:16-21.  The Teaching was How Christ (Yeshua) Gives.  He gives us Rest, Keys to the Kingdom, Power over evil spirits, Living Waters, His life, and Peace.

The sanctuary was so cold that I could hardly stay in there.  The sanctuary doesn’t have a very high ceiling but the vents really blow hard.  Whoever put in that system didn’t account for that.  I can’t stand icy cold air blowing on me like that, my eyes watered, my head stopped up, and I was sniffling from the cold draught.  I tried moving to different places, but there was no escaping it.  I might have to go back to the afternoon church a few miles south of that one, next Saturday.

Monday, May 21, 2018

Can Someone Grieve the Holy Spirit? The Wiles of the Devil and Wile E. Coyote. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

How Can Someone Grieve the Holy Spirit?

“The Holy Spirit within a person is the presence of the living Christ within that person. To grieve the Holy Spirit is to cause sorrow, distress, and emotional pain to Jesus Christ Himself. Through His presence in us Jesus is witness to our every word, thought and act. Some have the potential to grieve Him.

A man walking down a road in between to buildings.Luke Stackpoole/Unsplash

God is grieved when He sees any of His beautiful children heading down a path that leads away from eternal life and away from the everlasting joy He wants to share with them.

Ephesians 4:30 warns “do not grieve the Holy Spirit,” and is a warning directed to those who have believed, been baptized and received the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit within a person is the presence of the living Christ within that person. So to grieve the Holy Spirit is to cause sorrow, distress and emotional pain to Christ Himself. Through His presence in us, Christ is witness to our every word, thought and act. Some have the potential to grieve Him.

Does a divine being really feel grief?

God is all-powerful and immutable, yet He reveals Himself as feeling and expressing emotion. For example, in Genesis 6:5-8 God expresses regret and grief because of the evil actions and thoughts of mankind. Jesus also told us that His life in the flesh showed what the Father was like, and Jesus felt emotions: indignation, wrath, sorrow, affection, joy.

What specifically causes God grief?

God can be grieved by what we do, what we think and what goes on in our hearts. The verses surrounding Ephesians 4:30 offer insight into matters of the heart, mind and actions that might grieve the Holy Spirit. Let’s take a look!

The words we speak

Ephesians 4:29 asks us to consider the words we speak. We are advised to stick to talk that builds up, helps and benefits others, bringing joy, pleasure [grace]. We should assume that corrupt communication is talk that tears people down, hurts them and is contrary to their best interests.

Scripture is filled from beginning to end with warnings about our speech. Perhaps because words provide the most tangible window into the heart.

Examples of corrupt communication

Ephesians 4:31 provides us with specific examples of corrupt communication or rotten talk:

Bitterness, meaning “pointed, sharp, cutting.” When used literally it means a harsh, unpleasant taste or smell. But Scripture uses it to describe spiritual matters as well.

Anger, which is broken down into two types:

1. Passionate wrath,  ( thumos in Greek) meaning sudden outbursts of indignation.
2. Slow burning anger,  ( orge in Greek) meaning calculated and lasting animosity; plotting revenge, for example.

Fighting, literally “crying out” in loud voice. For example, in controversy or arguing.

Slander, saying false, hurtful things about a person’s reputation or character.

Words can make known the hidden things of the heart. You might not realize what’s lurking within yourself unless you make the effort to listen to yourself. Watching your words is a tool God gives you to begin to look into your heart and detect attitudes that grieve Him. Then you should work to eliminate them.”         Continued at: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/how-can-someone-grieve-the-holy-spirit

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The Wiles of the Devil and Wile E. Coyote.

“What are the tactics of our adversary, Satan the Devil? What is our best defense against them?

YouTube: https://youtu.be/AhuZfXw9y9w

Transcript:

[Steve Myers] “You may have heard of the cartoon character, Wile E. Coyote, that’s on the “Looney Tunes”. He is the one that’s always after the Road Runner, and he will do anything to try to catch that speedy bird. But he never seems to be able to do it, but he doesn’t ever give up. He never gives up, and there’s actually a reason that I wrote it on the board that’s a biblical reason. Then there’s a connection that came to my, maybe odd mind recently. And there’s a connection to Ephesians 6:11.   Wile E. Coyote came into mind when I read this passage. It says, “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Now it might seem kind of corny to think of it in this term. But the wiles, the reason they called him Wile E. Coyote is because he’s constantly scheming how to get that bird. And the apostle Paul used this word, in the Greek for a very specific reason. The word is methodias in the Greek which doesn’t just mean using methods, but he uses schemes, and he uses tactics and using wiles in the sense of using a strategy against us as God’s people.

So in a sense, we’ve got Satan, the devil, with a strategy, and the tactics of evil that are opposing us. And he’s not gonna give up, and he’s not going to relent. He’s like, in a sense, like this evil Wile E. Coyote, out to do anything and everything he possibly can to us as God’s people.

And so it’s not like Satan’s just, kind of, walking and strolling around without any intention. No, he has an intention. He has a method. He has a strategy to undermine our faith, and somehow thinking that he can short-change God, and overtake God, and subvert his plan if he can subvert us.

So we got to keep this in mind. Satan has tactics and strategy against us. So Paul tells us, if we’re gonna counter that, we’ve got to make sure then that we put on God’s armor. We can’t even do it ourself. We’ve got to put on the armor of God, and then by doing that, we can stand and we can battle and offset those wiles of the devil.”      From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/the-wiles-of-the-devil

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Update.

This had been a busy week, but not here.  Monday, Zack and I did work a bit here, painting in the mini-house, mowing and getting the yards looking good for the weekend.  Tuesday, I was supposed to meet one of the elders at the church dining hall, but he didn’t show up because had to do an extra day of jury duty.  He called the wrong number to let me know, so I waited there for quite a long time.  Then I went to the gym on the way home. 

Wednesday and Thursday we worked at the church rebuilding the kitchen sink cabinet.  It was one of those cheap particle-board ones that Furrows used to sell.  Someone had done some terrible jerry-rigging on the plumbing under the sink, and a water leak had caused the cabinet floor and side to rot so badly that the drawer couldn’t be used and the doors were falling off.  Really it was a situation where you take the radiator cap off and drive a new car under it.  The countertop was OK, but the cabinet needed to be scrapped.  We patched it up anyway with some plywood that I took over there.  This church is not ours, we pay rent to a Sunday church, and until just recently after they got a new pastor, repairs were not done at all.  But we use the kitchen a lot more than they do, so we thought that we ought to repair the kitchen cabinet.  Also an army of ants had come into there and made a mountain beside it, and behind the refrigerator, so I cleaned that up.  We had to pull the fridge out of the way anyway to get in there to put a new side on the cabinet. 

Friday was my usual “Preparation Day”, so I made some chicken breast and chicken liver gumbo with rice on the side.  Then in the afternoon, I tried to do something with my hair and get my house in some sort of order. 

The potluck went well, there were other dishes, like chili tater-tots, baked ziti, always lots of veggies, cole slaw, romaine, etc.  But the fridge had quit, I guess it didn’t like to be moved, so I had to bring all the condiments home to refrigerate them, and the rest of the food that was in the freezer was given to the elder who has the chickens. 

The Bible readings were Lev 21:1-24:23, about sanitation, not to take a wife who is a whore, Sabbath, Feast of Tabernacles, Passover,and other Holy Days, Eze. 44:15-44:31 and 1 Pet. 2:4-10.  The Teaching was about Rest, Spiritual Rest, God’s and Ours.  Remember the Sabbath.

So I didn’t get much work done around here this week, it will have to wait. Then it rained Sunday all day.

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Honor Our Mothers. Israel is 70 years old. God’s Enduring Love for Israel.

       

For “Sunday Scripture” on Mothers Day:

Honor Our Mothers

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Ephesians 6:1-3 reminds us of the fifth Commandment, Honor your father and mother.        

“The importance of mothers in building stable families cannot be overstated. They deserve honor for the selfless sacrifices they perform each day. This blog post is for them.

Mother’s Day is a day designed to formally give our mothers extra honor. This can take the form of a card, flowers, breakfast in bed or a special dinner. Mother’s Day is a good time to remember and thank your mother for her selfless love, all the service she does behind the scenes and how she is always there for you when needed. Of course, not all people have mothers like this—but many of us do.

In today’s society, sometimes the role of a mother is not as highly esteemed as it should be. A mother who chooses to focus on raising her children is sometimes referred to as “just a stay-at-home mom.” Some see this as a waste of a woman’s potential and think it’s a pity that someone would sacrifice her goals to change diapers.

Yet being a mother is one of the most important roles on earth. Let’s look at some of the important characteristics and roles of a good mother.”

Continue Reading at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/honor-our-mothers/

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If you continue reading Ephesians 6 to verse 4, it also says “Fathers, (and mothers) do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the LORD.”

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Israel at 70

The Amazing Story

“The dreams of a people would at last begin to be fulfilled with the remarkable events leading up to 1948 and in the years since. Yet there is a much greater fulfillment still to come.

As modern Israel turns 70, we look back at what led up to the amazing reestablishment of a Jewish state in the Holy Land after centuries of exile, and the struggle endured since—and ahead to promises and yearning yet unfulfilled.

Israeli flag with Jerusalem in the background.Photo collage by Shaun Venish/Mariusz Prusaczyk/Mathias Rhode/PaylessImages/123RF

The state of Israel’s formation and continued existence have been according to God’s plan.

The modern state of Israel, likely the most complicated and controversial geopolitical entity in the world today, was born 70 years ago on May 15, 1948. Many have described the history of its existence, settlement and survival as miraculous.

And, given that Bible prophecy reveals a Jewish political presence in Jerusalem and the surrounding area in the end time, and given that this development seemed unlikely if not impossible for centuries, it is quite sensible to recognize the hand of God at work in bringing this about. God declares that He brings to pass what He has foretold (Isaiah 46:9-11).

The dreams of a people would at last begin to be fulfilled with the remarkable events leading up to 1948and in the years since. Yet there is a much greater fulfillment still to come.

What is the story behind the formation of the Israeli state? Many readers will be somewhat familiar with the Jewish nation’s existence in the Holy Land at the time of Jesus Christ and the apostles, but what followed after that? The amazing story is a remarkable testimony to God’s faithfulness in bringing about what He promised and foretold.

The Jewish people saw their ancient presence in the land formerly known as Canaan, and in New Testament times as Judea, Samaria and Galilee, as a fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham—the territory referred to as the Promised Land. And even after the Romans cast them out, the Jewish people continued to look to God’s promises and prophecies of bringing the tribes of Israel and Judah back to the land.

Observant Jews, those who continued to follow Jewish religious traditions, retained a deep longing to return to their homeland. Their annual Passover and Yom Kippur (or Day of Atonement) services typically ended with the plea, “Next year in Jerusalem!”

After so long, the dreams of a people would at last begin to be fulfilled with the remarkable events leading up to 1948 and in the years since. Yet, as the Bible reveals, there is a much greater fulfillment still to come.

The Diaspora

Near the end of His ministry, Jesus foretold the temple’s imminent destruction (Matthew 24:2). The plight of Jewish exile from the land of Israel began in A.D. 70 at the hand of the Roman emperor Vespasian through his son and successor Titus, who was then a general, just 40 years after Jesus spoke those words. The city of Jerusalem and the temple of God where Jesus had worshipped and taught were destroyed.

The Jews expected the Messiah to be a nation-restoring king who would set them free from Roman rule—not the sacrificial Lamb of God sent to free them from a spiritual slavery they were ensnared in yet largely ignorant of.

The Jewish desire for independence from Rome ultimately led to uprisings that brought about their own undoing, and to this day the Arch of Titus stands outside of the Colosseum in Rome as a testament to the conquest that initiated 1,800 years of “Diaspora”—the dispersion and scattering of the Jewish people out of the land of Israel. The building of the Colosseum itself was funded by the spoils of the war with the Jews.

Another Jewish attempt to cast off Roman rule 65 years later, the Bar Kokhba revolt of A.D. 132-135, was crushed by the Romans under Emperor Hadrian. This resulted in the expulsion of the Jews from Jerusalem, which was transformed into a pagan city with a pagan temple atop the Temple Mount.

The centuries dragged on, and the Promised Land was eventually conquered and subjected to Muslim rule, which would last for many more centuries. It seemed impossible that Jewish rule could ever be reestablished there.”  Continued at: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/israel-at-70-the-amazing-story

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God’s Enduring Love for Israel  

The Bible explains the divine purpose for Israel’s existence in the ancient world and as a modern nation today.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/3zhIDKgZIvo

Transcript:

[Darris McNeely] “Here today, we are going to look at a nation and a people whose very existence tells us God and the Bible can be trusted. God does care about this world. Who is this nation? We are going to look at the story of the State of Israel. For more than 70 years the presence of the Jewish state in the Middle East is a sign that God cares and is involved. To understand the State of Israel is to understand the grace of God.

Christ said to the people listening to one of His sermons they needed to “discern this time” (Luke 12:54-56). He said they were able to look up at the sky and to see a cloud rise out of the west and they would say “a shower is coming.” And if the south wind would blow “it’s going to be hot.” But this same people had trouble discerning exactly who He, Jesus, was as He taught them and they could not act upon the message of the gospel that He taught.

How about you?

Can you discern your time, our time, our time in prophecy? Can you discern today’s world with all the many events that are shaping our lives? Let me show you how by looking at a part of the world that we regularly hear about.

Let’s look at the State of Israel. This tiny nation in the Middle East plays a significant role in world affairs. The State of Israel is 70 years old, having been created in May of 1948 and recognized by the United Nations. Israel lives in a tough Middle Eastern neighborhood. They are continually forced to defend their existence to survive.

However, in spite of 70 years of hostility Israel has developed a vibrant and prosperous society. Its people make positive life-enhancing contributions to the world in many critical areas such as technology, medicine, education and humanitarian efforts. So, why does Israel struggle against continual danger? Why must it defend itself before the court of world nations? Why all the antagonism and the hatred?

If we are to understand this paradox of hostility and blessing surrounding the State of Israel we must look to the Bible for the story. It is in Scripture where we see the backstory of Israel’s origin. Only in the Bible do we find the divine purpose for Israel’s existence, both in the ancient world and as a modern nation today. God had a purpose for Israel then and God has a purpose for Israel today. To understand Israel is to understand the grace of God. Let me repeat that. To understand Israel is to understand the grace of God.

Let’s understand how this story of Israel began. It is found in the Bible.

The ancient nation of Israel was a nation composed of descendants of the twelve sons of the man that we know as Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac and Isaac was the son of Abraham, and Abraham of course he is the father of the faithful people, all faithful people for that matter, who seek after the God of creation. Looking at Jacob it’s an interesting story. Any man who had twelve sons makes for an interesting story and Jacob was no exception. The book of Genesis tells Jacob’s story. His life involves every element of a good story. It has betrayal, revenge, children by multiple wives and concubines. It’s all there, the good and the bad.”  Continued at: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-television-program/gods-enduring-love-for-israel

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Update.

As for Mother’s Day today, the 13th. May, I do not have good memories of my mother who took off when I was 4 years old, and I was glad when she left.  So I was battered around different places until I was out on my own at 15.  My father was in the Air Force overseas, so even though he had custody of me, he couldn’t take care of me.  I did live with him and one of my step-mothers, for a couple of years when I was 13, but I never saw him, as he was always working.   But today, I did wish my daughter and granddaughter ‘Happy Mother’s Day’.   Becky, my ex-daughter-in-law who died of cancer, used to take me out to eat on Mother’s Day.

Monday, the 7th. May was a Holy Day, and the church service was at the usual 11 am, with a potluck afterwards. So, on Sunday, I made a beef stew with lots of veggies.  Still no leavened bread allowed until dusk that evening.

The Bible readings were Psa. 113, 114 and 118, and Exo. 13:17-15:26 about a pathway in the Red Sea drying up for the Jews to pass, and then the water came crashing back down to drown Pharoah and his men.  Then 2 Sam. 22:1-51 and Rev. 15:2-4.  The Teaching was about how we need to be washed in The Blood of The Lamb.

On Tuesday, Zack did a bit more painting in the mini-house.  On Wednesday, it was a shopping and ‘un-shopping’ day as I had some things to buy and return in Conroe.  But it got hot very quickly that day so I didn’t stay in town very long.  In the summer, if I can’t park the van in the shade of a tree, I don’t like to get back in it.  Even though my sunshades and AC work fine, it still takes a while to cool down.

Thursday was a key day.  A contractor finally showed up, and on time, to work on the mini-house.  While his two helpers worked on installing the kitchen drain, one inside and one under the house, he installed the 15-light door in between the new living room and bedroom, and he even nailed up the trim, plinth blocks and rosettes.

Friday is always my ‘preparation day’, getting ready for the Sabbath, so we don’t work on the mini-house.  I work on other stuff though.  Getting my clothes ready, according to the weather forecast, and preparing food for the potluck.  Sometimes I have an extra hour so that I can list something for sale. This Sabbath I had to go to the POA (Property Owners Assn.) meeting and vote.  We had a man on the ballot who has been good about cleaning up our neighborhood, and I wanted to make sure that he could continue with authority.  I left as soon as I had voted, but I knew he would win.

So, as I was going to be late for church, I made a beet and mandarin salad (which has no mayo) that I could keep on some dry ice in a cooler until I got to the church.  I arrived there in time to participate in the last couple of hymns, prayers for those in need, and hear the Teaching which was ‘On the Way To Freedom’.  The Bible readings are at the start of the service so I missed Lev.19:-20:27, Amos 9:7-9:15, 1 Cor. 6:9-20, 1 Pet. 1:13-16, so I was able to read them later that day.

     

Thursday, May 10, 2018

The Wave Sheaf Offering. Do You Lie To Your Kids? Update.

The Wave Sheaf Offering.

“Why is the wave sheaf offering still important for a Christian?”
Transcript:
“What is the wave sheaf offering? Why is it important during Days of Unleavened Bread?” Today we’re going to answer that question, we’re going to review the wave sheaf and its connection to the Days of Unleavened Bread and even moving forward and its importance to remembering the connection to all God’s Holy Days. So let me back up and ask the question again, “What is the wave sheaf offering?”

In simple terms the wave sheaf offering was a grain offering harvested during the first days of Unleavened Bread. Depending on when the Sabbath falls in this week it was to be harvested on the Sunday following the weekly Sabbath. In the instruction God gave ancient Israel, the priest was to take a sheaf of the early barley harvest, it was to be cut, it was to be beat out and made into fine flour, put in a bowl, a certain measure, and it was to be waved before God in acceptance before the congregation. Let’s read of that in Leviticus chapter 23. Seems like an odd thing to go through but it is deep with meaning. I’m hoping to show you some of that today.

Leviticus 23 and in verse 9, let’s pick up the thought here. Leviticus 23:9 – And the Eternal spoke to Moses, saying, Verse 10 – “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them:`When you come into the land which I will give you, and reap of its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. Verse 11 – `He shall wave the sheaf before the Eternal, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. Verse 12 – `And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the Eternal. Verse 13 – `It’s a grain offering shall be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the Eternal, for a sweet aroma; and its drink offering shall be of wine, one-fourth of a hin. Verse 14 – `You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought the offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. And as we just read, “the morrow after the Sabbath” – so this would be a Sunday and this year that’s tomorrow. This was to be done before that spring harvest was to begin in earnest.

Now, God instructed Israel to begin the spring harvest season by waving this ephah of barley. That’s a measure of about two quarts in our modern measurement system. This grain was not on the stalk, the wave was to be cut, as we’ll read here in a moment, it was to be beaten out fine. Let’s just do that, in verse 13. Verse 13 – grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour… That’s beaten down, like we would use to bake. It’s not the rough, on the stalk barley. This is interesting, the significance of this.

Now barley was the spring harvest grain, it wasn’t the primary grain, but it was an easy one to sow because it could be placed in the ground in the fall before everything went dormant. Then in the spring as the ground began to warm up this barley would start to grow. The Israelites, as we read, were not to eat of any other harvest of the early crop until this wave sheaf took place. Now in our modern society I would speculate that very few of us actually had a connection to farming in terms of our living and we may not understand how that works. But if you’re driving around you notice that a lot of the fields that are green.” 

Continued at: https://www.ucg.org/sermons/the-wave-sheaf

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The Wave Offering is the last day of the Feast of The Unleavened Bread, which we, in our church, just celebrated.

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Do you lie to your kids?

“Are White Lies a Necessary Part of Parenting?

by Brianna Wine

Society winks at and even encourages parents to tell their children white lies. But are little lies really harmless to our children?

“Come on, please get out of the pool. It’s time to go!”

The frustrated mother looks over at me, pleading for help. I sympathize with her, but look away to continue monitoring the pool. As a lifeguard, it’s my job to ensure everyone’s safety, but often I am required to do a little babysitting as well.

A little later, I hear her yell, “Okay, you have five more minutes and then you have to get out or else!” The child keeps swimming. Oh no, I think, as I see the parent start to walk over to me. The mom winks and says behind her hand in a whisper, “Hey, can you blow your whistle and say the pool is closed? When we leave, everyone can get back in. That is the only way Maddie will leave the pool. She just won’t listen to me.

As she said it, she looked at me for approval of her idea—but it was something I could not give. Instead of lying about the pool closing, I firmly instructed her child to leave the pool. As I became a nanny and then a teacher, I regularly witnessed these types of interactions between caregivers and children.

Survey says

In 2013 a parenting survey collected data from around the United States on a variety of topics related to parenting techniques and the parents themselves. The survey was titled, “Spanking? Lying? Confessions of American Moms.” The parents surveyed were 99.1 percent women, 81.7 percent of them were married, and 49.4 percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher.

A few of the questions focused on parents deceiving their children, such as: “Have you ever lied to your child to get out of something you couldn’t deal with (for example, saying you couldn’t go to the toy store because it was closed)?” The survey reported that 48.4 percent of the parents said yes and 25.8 percent said sometimes.

Although the numbers who lie to their kids seem shocking at first, think about how many times you have heard empty threats like, “If you do not come now, I am going to leave you at the store and never come back”? or heard parents tell their children, “You better not do that, Santa is watching.”

Are all lies harmful?
Sure, we all know the Bible says it’s wrong to lie, but telling your child Santa exists or that fairies are real is just a fun form of pretending, right? Sometimes it’s just easier to not tell the truth. Are white lies really that harmful?”        Continue reading at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/are-white-lies-a-necessary-part-of-parenting/

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Update.

Sunday evening, as I said last week, we celebrated the ‘Foot-washing’, and the ‘Bread and Wine..’ “Do it in remembrance of me.” 

Monday, 30th. April, the Passover started at dusk, so we had another evening gathering in the dining hall of the church.  We had the readings, the seder plate with the symbols, and the four little glasses of wine.  The supper was lamb, as it should be, with several veggies and unleavened bread made by different people in the congregation.  I made some too, and even though it was my first attempt everyone loved it and it was all devoured in a hurry.  Mine had been made with some almond flour, maybe that’s why it tasted different.   I don’t drive in the dark, so my German neighbor Hans took me to both the evening meetings.  He likes to go to these Biblical Holy Feasts, as his church doesn’t celebrate them.

It has been a busy “Feast of Unleavened Bread” week.  Waiting for contractors to look at the plumbing in the Mini-house took up several mornings.  The main drain was cut to add the kitchen sink drain, and that is as far as it got, so we couldn’t use any water over there. Why do people not show up when they have made an appointment? More time was spent with a trip to the Social Security Office, and a shopping spree at Lowes and Krogers !  Twice, I rescued a stranded neighbor when their car broke down.

All leavening was out of my house and the church kitchen and stored in my vacant mini-house.  We had a great daytime service for the beginning of the Feast on Tuesday, the 1st. May.  I made a Gelfite Fish loaf for the Holy Day potluck, and opened a couple of cans of Matzos Balls in Chicken Broth and added a bag of frozen mixed vegetables.  I also made a strawberry jel-like dessert with non-pork gelation with cut up fresh pears and plums in it.  That disappeared quickly, too.

The special Bible readings that day were Lev.22:23-44 about the Holy Day, Num. 28:16-25, 2 King 23:1-9,21-25, and 1 Pet.2:1-10, and the Teaching was about The Blood of Christ. 

During the week we all ate unleavened bread, which I didn’t miss, as I liked what the pastor’s wife and I had made, anyway, I don’t eat a lot of bread.  I had some whole wheat Matzos, too. Plaster it with almond butter and jelly, and you have a good snack. We had our usual Sabbath service on Saturday.  I took a crockpot of Bison and cabbage, and another crockpot full of freshly cooked veggies.  We would still be eating unleavened bread until the last day of The Feast of Unleavened Bread which would be over in the evening Monday, the 7th. May.

The Bible readings were continued where we had left off reading the Bible on the regular Sabbaths at Lev. 16:1-18:30, Ezek 22:1-22:19, and Heb 9:11-28.  We also read Psalms 1, 19 and 15. The teaching was about God’s Plan of Redemption, and how Jesus is the beginning and the end.

This is supposed to be posted on Sunday, but this time it is really late.  It’s going to be time to write the next one in a couple of days.