Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in Today’s World. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in Today’s World

“This seven-day biblical festival gives you a preview of the coming wonderful age beyond today.

Celebrating the Feast gives us a glimpse of the world beyond today—an incredible preview of the age to come. Take time to learn more about it.

Have you ever heard of the Feast of Tabernacles? Did you know that Jesus Christ celebrated it in the first century? Did you know that, even today, thousands of Christians follow His example by observing it every year?

There is great significance to the Feast of Tabernacles for Christians today. We’ll take a look at what this festival means and why it’s so important to God that you observe it too.

God tells us that we have a special appointment with Him at the Feast of Tabernacles—a unique invitation to a personal meeting with Him!

We’ll examine why thousands of Christians the world over take time off of work and away from school to gather together, staying in temporary dwellings, to worship God and Jesus Christ. We’ll see how this biblical festival holds incredible meaning for all of mankind!

A vision of God’s Kingdom

Three of Jesus’ disciples were part of a life-changing event that’s recorded in the Gospels. You might be familiar with what happened, but most people don’t realize that it actually has everything to do with the Feast of Tabernacles.

Let’s notice the details of the event commonly called the Transfiguration. One day Jesus was talking to His disciples and said something incredible: “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power” (Mark 9:1).

No doubt they didn’t know how soon Jesus’ words would come true! “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain … and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white … And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles’” (Mark 9:1-5, emphasis added throughout).

What an amazing event! In a vision, these disciples were suddenly whisked into the future to see Jesus Christ in His glory in His Kingdom!

Don’t miss Peter’s reaction. What did Peter associate with this vision? He said that they should make tabernacles.

What does that have to do with anything? Peter clearly related the Feast of Tabernacles to the idea of a tabernacle or a temporary dwelling. Why does this matter to Christians today? To answer that question, let’s look at a bit of background information.

A commanded celebration

In giving His laws to Moses, God said: “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation …’” (Leviticus 23:34-35).

You may be thinking that this is just an Old Testament thing for the Jews. It’s not. It’s a Christian thing! Do you realize that your Savior, Jesus Christ, set the example of observing this feast?

The book of John records this about Jesus and His brothers going to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles: “But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, ‘Where is He?’ … Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught” (John 7:10-11; John 7:14).

Did you notice that everyone expected Jesus to be at the Feast of Tabernacles? Why? Because it was His lifelong practice to celebrate God’s festivals as required in God’s laws. Even when His life was threatened, He went to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles!

You see, Christ knew that this was a commanded yearly celebration, and it wasn’t intended just for the Jews. Leviticus 23 rightly calls the occasions listed here “the feasts of the Lord” (Leviticus 23:2). They weren’t just feasts for Israel or celebrations just for the Jews. Jesus set the example by showing they were for everyone and that they continue to be God’s festivals.

The early Church continued in Jesus’ example of celebrating the feasts. He celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles every year and taught about its great significance. Scripture instructs us that, as His followers, we are to walk as He walked—to live as He lived (Isaiah 25:6-7).

When God says we are to celebrate the feasts, He uses a Hebrew word that means “appointed times” or “appointments.” Do you realize that God has set up a number of appointments with you to keep? These are also called “holy convocations” or “sacred assemblies.” Jesus knew that we can learn valuable lessons by meeting, fellowshipping and observing the Feast together.

God tells us that we have a special appointment with Him at the Feast of Tabernacles. Now imagine that! God has given us all a unique invitation to a personal meeting with Him!” Continued at: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/celebrating-the-feast-of-tabernacles-in-todays-world

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Feast of Tabernacles

“The Feast of Tabernacles lasts for seven days and is a time of joy and excitement for Christians around the world.

The Feast of Tabernacles is also known as the Feast of Ingathering. It pictures the future 1,000-year rule of Jesus Christ on earth with His saints. After His return, Jesus will set up the Kingdom of God and Isaiah describes this future period as a time of peace when all people will be taught to know, love and obey God. The nature of animals will change, the earth will become highly fertile, and, most importantly, “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” With Satan’s evil influence removed, all of humanity will at last learn God’s ways.

During the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, the United Church of God organizes sites all over the world where members gather to enjoy fellowship, worship God and study His Word each day of the festival. The first day is a special annual Sabbath. Find more about this year’s Feast of Tabernacles at http://feast.ucg.org .

(See: Leviticus 23:34; Exodus 23:16; Revelation 20:4-6; Isaiah 2:2-4; Isaiah 11:6; Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 35:1; Isaiah65:25)”

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Update.

I had hoped that the van’s alternator could be removed, repaired at the alternator repair shop, and then re-installed, but the mechanic who had sorted out the grounding problem could not be contacted again.   So Chris, my neighbor, follwed me to a very expensive, but good, mechanic shop in Willis, and I left it there.  I didn’t dare go any further with it, as it still running on battery only.  When that battery dies you are “dead in the water!”.

As I have explained before, some churches celebrate The Feasts at different times because of the way they calculate from a New Moon.  Ours is celebrating The Feast of Tabernacles this week.  Lauri picked me up for the Holy Day, Wednesday, the first day of The Feast of Tabernacles.  For that church potluck, I baked two salmon dishes, one spicy and one regular, and served it sliced on pretty cut-glass plates with savory crackers.  Not many came so we had lots of dishes left over, which we froze for another day.   

The Bible readings were Lev.22:2-23:44, Zech. 141-21, and John 1:1-14 where it says He pitched his tent among us. Considering that Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles that year, it seems very fitting. 

Haven’t you noticed how nativity scenes looks very much like the scenes of The Feast of Tabernacles? This explains: https://marbiesblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/america-israel-christopher-columbus-and-the-feast-of-tabernacles/ and this: http://christianitybeliefs.org/end-times-deceptions/messiah-was-born-on-the-feast-of-tabernacles-as-elohim-came-to-dwell-with-us/

My van was being worked on near the church, so I picked it up on the way home.  It now has a new alternator, $$ Ouch!!  I know Lauri is glad to have me mobile again, not relying on her, and others, to get me around.

On Thursday, my daughter, Wendy, came to visit me, and we went to lunch at a marina nearby with a view of Lake Conroe.  Wendy likes to choose restaurants where she can look at the water.  We had a great visit.  We started out on the covered terrace, but it was cold and windy so we had to go inside and look at the lake through the windows. I had Nachos Supreme and took a lot of the tortillas home, and made them into Tortilla Soup with chicken broth, non-GMO corn, tomatoes, onions, and celery, etc, for the church potluck.

I also made some dried plums into plum puree, and then didn’t know what to do with it, other than putting it on cereal, so I made Plum Puree Muffins for the church’s Sabbath potluck which I was able to go to in my van, under my own steam, for the first time in two weeks.

The Bible readings were Psa. 100, Deut. 33:1-34:12, Josh. 1:1-18, Rev. 22:1-5 and the Teaching was about The Feast Days and the Messiah is our Passover.  Lev. 23 tells us to observe the Holy Days.

Starving Bees After Hurricane. A Halloween Story. Day of Atonement. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

URGENT: Over a Billion Bees Starving After Hurricane Michael

Hurricane Michael decimated flowers and other bee food sources for miles along the Florida panhandle. Over a billion bees will starve to death if we don't act now. Join the #BillionBeeChallenge by making a donation today. 

The strongest storm to ever hit the Florida panhandle has left an ecological disaster in its wake. In addition to the homes and business the hurricane destroyed, Michael's 150 mile per hour winds ripped trees, bushes, and flowers from the ground. What's left is a true emergency for the state's bee population. With no natural food sources, a temporary replacement source is necessary to keep an estimated 50,000 colonies from starving and collapsing. Losing these bees would be a tragedy, and would permanently wreak havoc on our country's citrus supply.

GreaterGood.org is working with the Florida State Beekeepers Association and the Florida State Department of Agriculture to send in an emergency supply of sugar syrup to keep bee colonies sustained while bee forage material regrows, a process that is estimated to take at least a month. There are 5 tankers ready to be filled and dispatched, and the government is not providing funding for this mission. We need your help urgently.

You can help. Every dollar helps, and a gift of $15 will keep over a million bees (25 colonies) fed for a day. Your gift will go directly to providing food for bees before they starve — donate today.

100% of your Gift That Gives More™ donation will go as a charitable gift to GreaterGood.org. GreaterGood stores pay the credit card transaction fee, so every cent of your donation goes to charity.  

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From: https://store.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/products/89217-urgent-save-millions-of-bees-after-hurricane-michael?

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A Halloween Story

Following is an imaginary dialogue on the reasons responsible people might wonder whether they should participate in the customs, and don the costumes, of Halloween.

000 PhotoDisc, Inc

Where did the strange customs of Halloween originate? How did such symbols as witches, ghosts, devils and monsters become associated with a supposedly religious holiday?

It’s Oct. 31. Daylight begins to surrender to dusky darkness. A biting wind blusters at windows. The doorbell rings in the home of a widowed grandmother. She swings open the door to two young children costumed as cheerful cartoon characters, each carrying a large paper shopping bag.

“Trick or treat!” they call out in unison with sweet voices through happy smiles as they extend their bags in eager anticipation. Their weary mother, standing several steps away, shivers against the wind and chill of the approaching darkness.

The neighborhood grandmother has nothing to contribute to the already-bulging bags, but she offers the trio some hot chocolate and a comfortable place to rest from the cold for a few minutes. They are puzzled by her lack of Halloween treats, but they gladly accept her offer to come inside and warm up. Neighborhood Grandmother: “Oh, you look so cold! This hot chocolate should warm you right up. I have to compliment you [she says to the children’s mother] on how responsible you seem about the children’s safety. It’s a good idea to accompany them. You can never know what dangers lurk even in this neighborhood.”

Mother of the children: “Oh, yes, I would never let them go out alone. The children don’t necessarily appreciate Mom’s watchful eye, but there are too many dangers to ignore. Children are harder for drivers to spot at this time of night, and there is also the worry of tampered candy and fruit. Even without those fears, it’s always a challenge to keep them from eating so many sweets that they get sick the next day.”

Grandmother: “Why, may I ask, did you choose those cartoon-character costumes instead of ghosts, goblins and such?”

Mother: “We don’t like the emphasis on death and violence, so we purposefully avoid those types of costumes. And we don’t want the children to remember this holiday as one in which acts of vandalism are considered fun. I have unpleasant childhood memories of children throwing rocks at cars and windows of houses, setting fires and deliberately terrorizing senior citizens.”

Grandmother: “It sounds like you’ve obviously given some thought to this.”

Mother: “Well, we go out of our way to make this a fun holiday for our children. Our goal is to fill their memories with good experiences. We are parents with high standards.

“May I ask you a question? You’re such a kind neighbor, always greeting my children cheerfully as they walk by your house on their way to and from school. I don’t know if you realize it, but you have a reputation as the neighborhood grandma.

“But you obviously haven’t decorated your home for Halloween, and you don’t have candy or treats for the children who come trick-or-treating. That seems out of character for you. Is there a reason?”

Grandmother: “I guess I must seem a bit different by not getting into the spirit of things on Halloween. I’d be happy to explain why. “My thinking is actually quite similar to yours. Like you, I’m troubled by the vandalism and violence associated with Halloween. More than once I have seen some of those acts aimed at senior citizens. Then there is the awful emphasis on death and dying and disembodied spirits.”

Mother: “Oh, I know. Some of the costumes I see, along with the horror movies aired on television this time of year, are downright repulsive. I don’t know why Halloween seems to give people an excuse to set aside their normal values and to revel in things they really don’t care for at other times. That’s why our family stays clear of the horror costumes and any association with death. We make Halloween a fun time.”

Grandmother: “I am all for making life fun for the children. But, even so, some years ago I made a decision to withdraw from Halloween activities. My personal conviction is that I could not dress up—pardon the pun—the traditions of something so truly wicked in its origins to make it into a children’s holiday.

“I thought long and hard about it, and it just doesn’t make sense. People who want to teach their children values like honesty, respect for others, kindness and generosity, and who want to instill in their children a positive outlook on life, take those same children and have them disguise themselves as the dead or as evil monsters or beings so they can go from house to house to ask for treats.

“I know that ‘trick-or-treat’ has a real catchy sound to it, but it doesn’t come from pleasant roots. It’s based on the idea that a mean trick will be played on you if you don’t give treats to any stranger who approaches you. Is it too harsh to say that taking treats with threats makes me think of a kind of extortion?

“I’m not trying to criticize you or hurt your feelings. You’re obviously a responsible mother. But this is a personal choice. I cannot in good conscience participate in something that runs so completely contrary to what I really would like to see for our children.”

Mother: “There’s no need to apologize. We’ve discussed these same things. Those are the very reasons we avoid the horrible costumes. But we chose to continue with the holiday because of its religious roots. You are so well informed that you must know the religious background of Halloween. Since it is closely allied with religion, we felt we could, as you put it, dress up this holiday in a way that would be in line with the values we want to instill in our children.” Grandmother: “Yes, I’m aware that Halloween comes from ‘All Saints’ Eve’ and that the word itself is an abbreviation of ‘hallowed evening.’ That fact also caused me to hang onto the holiday longer than I would have otherwise. I suspect that long ago religious people attempted to dress up an ugly, uncivilized and unchristian holiday, perhaps for the same reasons that we have been discussing—to try to make it acceptable.

“That rationale hasn’t been enough to convince me that Halloween was healthy for my family and community for two reasons. First, I learned that the word saint is used in the Bible simply to mean a believer, or member of the Church. There is no biblical example of celebrating one saint or believer above another and certainly no precedent for a holiday in honor of any supposed saint.

“The second reason—and I’ve really looked into this because I believe God and sincerely want His guidance—is that I’ve researched the history of people who honored God who were challenged with similar questions. When they came in contact with different cultures, they were confronted with unholy customs and holidays.

“How did they react? Did they dress up those offensive customs with customs of worship given them by God? I found the clearest possible answer in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 12. It’s found in the last four verses. In essence, God told the people not to attempt to make the unacceptable acceptable. Rather, they were to avoid evil and build their customs on a clean foundation.

“Once I read that, my mind was settled. From then on I determined to provide fun for my children and grandchildren—and the neighborhood children—in positive ways, steering clear of Halloween.”

Mother: “Well, you’ve really piqued my curiosity. Thanks for your kind hospitality and especially for your insight. It’s time for us to be on our way. It looks like I have some reading and thinking to do.”

From: https://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/a-halloween-story

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How did Halloween come to be considered a "Christian" celebration?

“Does the Bible say anything about All Hallows' or All Saints' Day?

Originally Halloween was a pagan festival oriented around fire, the dead and the powers of darkness. How did it become accepted in the "Christian" world?

FamVeld/iStock/Thinkstock

Pagan festivals have had a curious way of worming their way into Christianity over the centuries.

Most people know that Halloween takes place on Oct. 31. Far fewer understand the connection between Halloween and the next day on the calendar, the festival of All Hallows’ or All Saints’ Day, celebrated by some churches and denominations Nov. 1.

One author concludes that All Saints’ Day was established to commemorate the saints and martyrs of the Roman Catholic Church and was first introduced in the seventh century (Man, Myth, and Magic, Vol. 1, 1983, p. 109). Oddly enough, history shows that Halloween—this ancient, thoroughly pagan holiday with its trappings of death and demonism—is inseparably tied to All Saints’ Day.  Continued at:

https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/how-did-halloween-come-to-be-considered-a-christian

For more understanding, please read the booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?

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Update:

It could have been a frustrating week without a vehicle, but I didn’t let it get to me.  The van spent nearly a week at the mechanics, they drove it around several times, and couldn’t find anything wrong with it, but the “battery” light was still on.   I had had it tested the Sunday before it broke down at O’Reilly’s and they said my alternator and everything was OK.  So Chris and I picked it up and I stopped at O’Reilly’s again.  Same person checked it, and everything checked out until it got to “Voltage Regulator, and it showed weak. They tried to sell me an alternator as the voltage regulators are inside the alternators now.  I was running on battery only, because it wasn’t charging, so I put a charger on it when I got it home.  I have a bad-looking negative battery cable and had ordered it before, but it never came in.  So I thought I had better start there.  If the cable is bad it won’t charge anyway.  Then found out that cable is part of the main wiring harness, and is no longer available.  

So I bought a work-around cable splicer with about 8” of cable with the terminal end and pigtails on it.  The retired mechanic down my road, the one with the bad back, said that he would install it, but he had a lot of trouble with it and ended up making up a cable and pigtail, but then couldn’t get the van to start. Yesterday, a friend brought a mechanic over here and he found out that it wasn’t grounded right, so the van is starting now as long as the battery is charged up, BUT I still need an alternator!  So I still can’t go very far. 

There was no cooking needed for the Day of Atonement on Friday as it was a fast day, so it was a lot easier getting into Lauri’s car without the big insulated bag of food.  Service started at 11 am as usual, but no potluck afterwards.  The Bible readings were Psa. 51, Lev. 16:1-34, Isa.57:14-58:14. and Heb. 9:1-14.  The Teaching was about Atonement:

noun

1. satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) Theology. the doctrine concerningthe reconciliation of God and humankind, especially as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ.

It is the most solemn of Holy Days when we should be fasting, repenting and asking forgiveness of sins.  The symbol of the “scapegoat” comes from The Day of Atonement.   The Day of Atonement and the Gospel  YouTube: https://youtu.be/VDoQ2TxgNdY 

A Chicken and Brown Rice Salad was made for the Sabbath.  I had made a salad because I hadn’t intended to go to the morning church, but visit some people with my friend and then go to the afternoon church with them.  It is easier to keep a cold dish cool with some dry ice than keeping a hot dish safe while my friend and I had the other visiting to do.  Then found out that they had to work, so I went to the morning church after all.  Hans was going to take me, then Lauri showed up so I went with her.

The Bible readings were Deut. 32:1-52, 2 Sam. 22:1-51, and Rom. 10:14-11:12 and the Teaching was about the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths.   Yes, I know, many have already celebrated this, but it depends which new moon they are using in their calculations.  We are starting it on the 24th. October, this Wednesday.

Questions About Heaven Answered From the Bible. Feast of Trumpets. Update

For “Scripture Sinday”:

Questions About Heaven Answered From the Bible

“There are many ideas about what happens after we die. But the best place to find the truth is in the Book inspired by the One who knows the most about heaven. 

A lot of people have ideas about heaven, but no human being has been there except Jesus Christ. Let’s see what God says about it in the Bible.

Am I going to heaven when I die?

No Bible passage speaks of heaven as the destination of “saved souls.”

No. Quite the contrary. Your future is right here on planet earth.

Yet many people believe that when they die they will go to heaven. That’s what the Holy Bible says, doesn’t it? Well, there are indeed plenty of books on library shelves that say that, but amazingly, the Bible isn’t one of them.

Scriptures forecasting the earth’s future put the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, not in heaven, but rather on earth in the holy city Jerusalem, governing the many nations of this planet (Revelation 5:10; 11:15; 20:4; Matthew 5:5).

The holy instruction manual provided by the Architect of the cosmos, Jesus Christ, makes it clear: We’re not going to heaven. Rather than all of us being transported up there; Jesus Christ is coming down here (see John 3:13; Zechariah 14:9).

But what about the many references to “heaven” in the Bible?

Many of those refer to the place where God’s throne is now. It is His headquarters, where many of His angelic staff serve Him, and it will be relocated to the earth in the future (Matthew 6:10; Revelation 21:1-4). Most of the biblical references to heaven are about earth’s atmosphere or about the starry skies.

No Bible passage speaks of heaven as the destination of “saved souls.” Going to heaven or hell is one of the cardinal teachings of mainstream Christianity. If the teaching really came from the Bible, wouldn’t we expect to find many references explaining about heaven clearly?

Astonishing as it may seem, not one Bible verse says outright that your, my or anybody else’s immortal soul (if we had one) will go there when we die.

Do a search yourself for these common phrases in a reputable, word-for-word translation of the Bible (like the King James Version or the New King James Version):

• Going to heaven.
• When I get to heaven.
• Those in heaven.
• Getting to heaven.
• Men in heaven.
• Souls in heaven.
• Heavenly gates.
• Pearly gates.
• Our future in heaven.
• Eternity in heaven.
• Saints in heaven.

Not one of those catchphrases—so popular in most Christians’ faith experience—appears in the King James Version. They’re not in the Bible. The Bible does use the phrase “kingdom of heaven,” but it doesn’t refer to people going to heaven. To learn why, read our article “The Kingdom of Heaven.”

Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/blog/questions-about-heaven-answered-from-the-bible/?

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Feast of Trumpets

“The progression of the biblical festivals throughout the year vividly portrays the glorious plan of God to bring many children to glory in His family.

The Bible lists seven festivals that God gave to the nation of Israel for them to celebrate each year (Leviticus 23). The New Testament shows many examples of Jesus, His apostles and the Church of God observing them as well. Each festival is full of rich Christian symbolism, pointing to God’s plan for humanity and Jesus Christ’s role in each step.

Most of the festivals are also special annual Sabbath rest days, which are observed in addition to the weekly Sabbath day.

The fourth festival of God is the Feast of Trumpets . The Bible describes the day as a “memorial of blowing of trumpets.” In Israel, trumpets were used as a way of announcing special, very important messages. 

Jesus Christ reveals that before His return to the earth, seven trumpets will be blown, announcing the downfall and overthrow of this world’s kingdoms and the return of Christ to take possession of the earth and establish the Kingdom of God. Christ’s return is announced by the seventh and final trumpet. This day also pictures the ultimate fulfillment of every Christian’s hope: the moment when faithful Christians will be resurrected to receive the gift of eternal life at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. A Christian’s eternity with God begins with the opportunity to reign on earth with Jesus Christ for 1,000 years.

(See: Leviticus 23:24-25; Numbers 10:1-10; Revelation 8:2; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Corinthians15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)” 

From: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/how-do-christians-observe-the-biblical-festivals-guide-god-holy-days

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Update:

Last Sunday I drove quite a way to see a senior who was having some problems.  They convinced me to bring them over here, which was OK, but as they have some dementia, they and their relatives kept on calling each other on my phone.  I had to dial the number for them.  It was obvious that they really needed to be back in familiar surroundings, so I took them home.  But they left me a fully stuffed down jacket to wash, as they didn’t know how to do that.

Monday, Zack, my neighbor and I worked on a few things like re-connecting a refilled 5 gallon propane tank so that my cook top will work.  I can manage quite well without it as I have many electric cooking things, but I like to have the propane just in case of a power failure.  We also tried out the two flat TVs that I had bought, and they both worked.  Now maybe I can find someone who wants four tube-type TVs!  We also sanded the floor in the mini-house where we had patched it.

Tuesday, on my way to a chiropractor appointment and to deliver the washed down-filled jacket, my van started sputtering, backfiring and died.  It took 3-1/2 hours for the wrecker to arrive to take it to the mechanic.  My friend Chris came and picked me up at the mechanics, so we delivered the jacket at the Seniors Center, stopped for some groceries, then she took me home.  I still don’t have my van.

Wednesday was a Holy Day, The Feast of Trumpets, so Lauri from church who lives down the road, took me and my food for the potluck.  I had made Roasted Cubed Potatoes with Onions and Bell Peppers, Sliced Bison and Gravy, and also Sautéed Cabbage, so I took three crockpots that day.

The Bible readings were Gen 21:1-34 about Isaac, 1 Sam. 1-2":10 about Saul and the Teaching was about “Are We Just Waiting, Or Are We Looking for Him?”  We need to be ready.  One of the elders, Jeff, sounded the shofar, (ram’s horn) and did the blasts like they would have done on that day.  Jeff is really good on the horn, and better than Dr. Schneider on TV, http://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/ .  We all enjoyed the service, food and fellowship.

Thursday, Zack and I finished washing my vintage motor-home, and he mowed. 

Friday, I spent cooking and studying.  Hans, the German gentleman from down my street stopped by, wondering where my van was.  As I had already bothered Chris and Lauri this week, I asked him if he would take me to church on Saturday.  I know he likes to go to my church once in a while.  It is easier for me to go in Hans’ car, because I can’t wear cologne or hairspray when I ride with Lauri.  So I brushed my hair up into a banana clip, sprayed it so it wouldn’t drop, and had several compliments.  I took Turkey in Tomato Sauce, and gluten-free, organic, Spaghetti Pasta in separate crockpots.  Don’t forget that I come from Europe, and we don’t mix the two until we get on our plates because some folks want more sauce and some want more pasta.  I made one little dish of organic sauce for Lauri because she says she has to eat organic or she will get a migraine.  The pastor’s wife had made organic ground beef, and organic refried beans for the tacos, so Lauri had some of that, too.

The Bible readings were Psa. 100, Deut. 31:1-30, Isa. 55:6-56:8 and Rom. 10:14-18. And the Teaching was about “Trumpets”, not the feast, but the times in the Bible where it says that the trumpets will sound when He arrives, and we had better be ready.  Also the trumpets will sound when we are getting ready for The Feast of Taberbacles which we will be celebrating soon.  Different people calculate from different new mons, that is why this church is a month behind some of the others.  We will be keeping the only fasting feast, The Day of Atonement, on Friday.

People Cause Suffering, CAUSE AND EFFECT, The problem with evil. The Honey Crisis. Update.

For Scripture Sunday”:

CAUSE AND EFFECT. The problem with evil.

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

That’s a fundamental law of the world we live in. As a fish makes its way through the ocean, it pushes against the water with its fins—and the water pushes right back, allowing the fish to swim. The only reason a basketball player can dribble is because after he pushes the ball toward the ground, the ground pushes the ball back up to him. And if we make the mistake of running into a wall, the pain we feel comes from the fact that the wall pushes back.

It’s cause and effect in action. If x happens, you can count on y happening in response. If you put a plate of food in front of a hungry teenager (cause), you can count on the food disappearing (effect). If you spend two months drinking five cups of coffee every day and then suddenly stop (cause), you can count on experiencing one incredible headache (effect). And if your friends find out you know how to work on cars (cause), you can count on a lot of people asking you for favors (effect).

None of that is particularly surprising. It’s how the world works. We know, instinctively, that things typically don’t just “happen.” They’re caused. Now, there might be multiple causes, or the cause might be a subtle one, but it’s still a matter of cause and effect. Y happens because of x.

When tragedy strikes—when we’re left reeling from the news of another kidnapping, another shooting, another terrorist attack, another casualty of war, the obvious, easy question to ask is, “Why is God allowing this to happen?”

The less obvious, more difficult question is, “What caused this?”

Suffering doesn’t exist on its own. Suffering is caused. And if we want to understand why God allows it to happen, we need to start by understanding the cause behind the effect.

Thousands of years ago, nestled away in an idyllic garden, a husband and wife lived a perfect, peaceful life. They had food, they had safety, and they had a close relationship with God. Theirs was a world without suffering.

Until …

Until they ruined it.

It’s a story you’ve probably heard already—the story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden, as told in the first three chapters of the Bible. But it’s more than just a story. It’s a powerful piece of history, preserved for us through the ages to help us find the answers to many of the questions we’ve been asking on this Journey.

Created to inhabit a garden planted by God Himself, Adam and Eve lived in a literal paradise. The garden was filled with “every tree … that is pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Genesis 2:9). Within the bounds of the garden, there was no lack of any good thing—but there was a rule.

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:16-17).

One tree. Out of the whole garden, God placed one single tree off limits, giving the newly created human race unfettered access to everything else. But the tree proved to be too great a temptation. A cunning serpent, later revealed to be Satan the devil (Revelation 12:9), convinced Eve to eat of the tree, promising, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4). Falling for Satan’s sales pitch, Eve ate from the tree, and Adam followed her lead, forever impacting the course of human history.

Eating from that tree represented a choice. By disobeying God, Adam and Eve decided that it was within their power to define good and evil—and if you know the story, then you know that things went from bad to worse in record time.

Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden—from paradise—to a world that would prove far less gentle. Without God’s blessings, the ground would be less willing to yield its crop (Genesis 3:17). There would be thorns and thistles to contend with (verse 18). Childbirth would be a painful ordeal, and without following God’s standards, marriage would become a battle of wills (verse 16). Then, at the very end of it all, Adam and Eve would die, returning to the dust from which they had been formed (verse 19).

And they did die—but not before their firstborn son murdered his younger brother out of jealousy and rage (Genesis 4:8). As generations came and went, things continued to decline until at last “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and … every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

Suffering came with that wickedness. Humanity was so corrupt that God looked down and saw that “the earth was filled with violence. … Indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Genesis 6:11-12).

Within generations, the earth transitioned from a peace-filled paradise to a place filled with violence and suffering. And what caused it?

People.    People cause suffering.”      Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/learning-center/journeys/journey-2-the-problem-of-evil/2/

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The Honey Crisis

An Amazing Fact: To produce about 1 pound of honey, bees must make 25,000 trips between their hive and the flowers from which they gather precious nectar. Furthermore, that same pound of honey contains the essence of about two million flowers! In the process of making this honey, bees provide a crucial service to nature—pollination. Albert Einstein once remarked that “If bees were to disappear, man would only have a few years to live.” This statement is especially sobering when you consider the recent decimating plague among U.S. bee colonies called colony collapse disorder (CCD).

Just before the beginning of 2007, beekeepers from all over North America began reporting colonies of their bees dying off in unprecedented numbers. Twenty-four U.S. states reported honeybees vanishing at an alarming rate, leaving beekeepers struggling for survival and farmers worried about pollination of their crops. The mysterious disappearance of bees ranges from 30 to 70 percent in some states. Blooming orchards that used to roar with buzzing bees are now strangely silent. One California beekeeper said, “I have never seen anything like it. Box after box after box is just empty. There’s nobody home.”

Experts are exploring several theories to explain the losses from CCD. These include viruses, mites, pesticide contamination and, strangely enough, poor bee nutrition. The mysterious colony collapse disorder highlights the fundamental role that honeybees play in the natural chain of God’s economy, providing fruit and vegetables. Honeybee pollination contributes more than $14 billion worth of North American harvests each year. A broad assortment of crops like apples, peaches, avocados, soybeans, pears, pumpkins, cucumbers, cherries, kiwis, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and many more, depend on honey bee pollination.

Some have suggested that if all honeybees suddenly died off, it would bring their vital work of pollination to an end. This environmental breakdown could easily cause an agricultural and economic chain reaction leading to a financial collapse and possibly a national famine.

Who would have guessed the work of these little creatures was so important! Maybe that’s why the Bible has so much to say about honey! David writes about God’s law: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103). And Solomon says, “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24).    

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? and he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. Judges 14:18”

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Update.

Zack painted the shelves which will be ‘catifying’ the mini-house. Then we spread them out all over the place to dry.  If, or when, I move in there, even if I don’t still have this foster cat, Gracie, the one who was in a fire, then I will take care of another one for the SPCA.  It is nice to have another living, breathing thing around the house, so why not help out.  I am too old to adopt a pet, so fostering works well for me.  One year I didn’t have a pet, so I bought a goldfish!

As my back is still bothering me, I saw the doctor about getting a referral to see the chiropractor again.  Also went to the Tuesday seniors “do”, dominos or cards, lunch and Bingo again.  This is really for people who have nothing else to do, and they meet two more times a week for dominos or cards, and then lunch.  I did run over there on Thursday, because I said I would help, but I can’t keep that up, I have to earn a living selling my stuff online.

But when I left there my ‘battery’ light came on, so I stopped at Interstate Batteries.  They put another battery in, (more $$$) then on Sunday that light came back on, but O’Reillys Auto Parts tested it and found nothing wrong.  So I will have go to Interstate next time I go into Conroe.

On Wednesday, a carpenter was supposed to come and investigate a soft spot in the mini-house living room floor.  But he decided to high-jack his price before he had even seen it, so Zack and I did it.  The week before I had taught Zack how to ‘plunge-cut’ with a circular saw, so knew we could do it.  (My bad wrist won’t let me use a big saw anymore).  I just wanted to know why it was soft before installing any floor covering.  It was a defect in the orginal plywood which is 29 years old, as that part of the mini-house was moved up here on this hill after it had 4½ feet of water in it in the flood of October 1994.  We had just finished building that house after the previous house had burned down in 1989.

Friday, I just stayed home, worked, and made a potluck dish for the Sabbath.  I had come across a good deal on avocados, so I made a big Avocado Salad with lemon juice, black beans, non-gmo corn, onion, tomato, seasonings, and a little avocado oil. It was a smash hit, and folks took some home for later. 

Before church on Saturday I stopped down the road and helped a friend get their stuff out for the bi-monthly “Yard Sale” at the storage place.  I bought 2 flat TVs very cheap, as they couldn’t try them out there. Several of the storage unit tenants have these sales and the gates are left open then.  The rest of the time you have to have a code to get in.

At the morning church, and the Bible readings were Deut. 29:10-30:20, Isa. 61:10-63:9, and Rom. 10:1-13.  The Message was “Seven Earnest Men”, and their different cries.  Jacob cried for help. Moses for intersession, Solomon for wisdom, David for cleansing, etc.   By the time I had helped the pastor’s wife clean up the kitchen and dining hall, I didn’t go to the afternoon church, especially as I had food for Zack in the van.  Now, we are getting ready for the Holy Days. 

Tabernacles: Building Bridges of Kindness. How God’s Festivals Reveal His Plan. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Building Bridges of Kindness 

“The Feast of Tabernacles is coming up soon and is a perfect opportunity to contemplate ways we can show kindness to others.

Katie Moum/Unsplash

Kindness goes a long way to make life a better experience for the use of it.

Kindness is listed among the fruit of God’s Spirit. Webster and Dictionary.com defines being kind as being sympathetic, helpful, considerate, and forbearing, or showing tolerance, among other qualities. Showing kindness goes a long way to make life a better experience. And in my own mind its use is a most powerful way of building bridges among people, and should especially be seen among God’s people.

Recently, the death of one of the brethren in the local church occurred who had endured several years of difficulty due to a stroke he suffered. Before he was a vibrant and gentle man, who spoke to God’s people on a regular basis, and with kindness taught about qualities God wants us to develop in our hearts and minds. It is something I will always remember about him. Now, it is a time when we in turn can show the sympathy described as kindness to his wife and family, a gift to help lift them up.

Being generous is another way to show kindness. It lifts the receiver, and at the same time the giver. Have you ever received an unexpected gift from someone? A gift that makes you think of the giver every time you think of it, see it or wear it? It might have been the gift of a kind word, or appreciation. What a warm feeling it brings to reminisce about the kindness of a person who thought of you in a special way by giving you something. Doesn’t it endear you to that person with a new connection rekindled by their generosity? Doesn’t it soften your spirit toward them, if, as sometimes happens, it may be a gift to bring reconciliation and peace between you. That is the time to accept it graciously, be glad to rekindle the relationship with the giver, and let go of grievances.

Another quality to emphasize in the definition of kindness is the ability of showing tolerance. Ah, tolerance. That quality, which when received, makes us thankful that someone has had the kindness to overlook a slight, or let a harsh word spoken in haste go by, rather than make a charge against us.

If we know the experience of receiving tolerance, then we should offer that gift to others as well. And the greatest expression of tolerance for us all was shown through Jesus Christ in the gift of His life for us. “He laid down His life for us, we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16-18). And when we have the chance to give it to someone who may have hurt us in some way, we can lighten our heart, and hopefully theirs by that gift, realizing a slight is often unintended during a time of fatigue or stress in our lives.

What happens in the outcome of the uses of kindness in our life and in the lives of others? Most likely we have been aware of times when a less than kind way of handling a situation has not turned out very well. It often ends with more angry words and animosity between people.

By practicing kindness, it builds the bridges that connect us to one another with fondness and affection. It brings peace and a solace to our spirit that comforts us. And, I believe, it brings satisfaction to God our Father, Who is judging our actions in this life. It can be a way which will prompt Him to say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. . . ” (Matthew 25:21, KJV).

The Feast of Tabernacles is coming up soon and is a perfect opportunity to contemplate ways we can show kindness to others. We can share a tolerant spirit. We can be generous, often more than other times of year. We can include others who may not have opportunities to fellowship at other times of the year. We can bring the joy of building bridges with our brethren by practicing kindness, both at home and at the various Feast sites we will be attending.

Let’s build bridges of kindness to connect to one another during this feast season and beyond.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/members/united-news/building-bridges-of-kindness

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Plan of Salvation: How God’s Festivals Reveal His Plan

“God has an incredible goal in mind for the humans He made in His own image. How does He let us in on the knowledge of that plan of salvation?

Throughout the Bible God shows that He has a plan for us—a plan that includes every human being who has ever lived, each in his or her own turn (1 Timothy 2:4 ; 1 Corinthians 15:23 ).

Jesus Christ compared His work with us to planting and harvesting (Luke 8:11-15 ). He plants the truth that leads to salvation in our hearts at the right time, and He gives us the help to grow and eventually receive the gift of salvation—eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

How does God plan to offer this priceless gift to everyone? What are the steps in God’s plan of salvation—His “harvest” of human beings?

Interestingly, we find in the Bible seven annual harvest festivals that God wanted His people to keep in their memory and worship. Most people today don’t even know the names of many of these days, but God called them “holy” — He said they are His days!

They deserve careful examination, especially when you discover that Jesus Himself, His disciples and His Church actually celebrated these same festivals!

Is it possible that these ancient festivals are actually a blueprint outlining God’s grand plan of salvation, showing us what the future holds for the entire world and the children of God? It’s time to understand the astounding meaning of God’s holy days!

Each of the articles in this section is written to explain how the festivals picture the plan of salvation. Each festival has great meaning, and as a whole they give insights into the past as well as future events yet to be fulfilled. Now is the time for you to explore this wonderful plan in your own Bible and gain the incredible hope and direction that God’s plan of salvation has for you.”  From:  https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/

About God’s Festivals: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/how-do-christians-observe-the-biblical-festivals-guide-god-holy-days

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Update:

Another really busy time.  My Puddle Jumper, the little Mercury station wagon, hadn’t been driven or washed for quite a while and it had become really dirty and dusty, so Zack, my neighbor washed it.  Then on another morning we polished it. 

Zack got some more of the mini-house shelves painted this last week, too.  If I move in there, it has to be “catified” with shelves on the walls for my foster cat to pretend she is queen of the mountain, or up a tree!

On Tuesdays there is an event for seniors in Conroe, so I started going there. First thing they have donuts (which I don’t eat) and pastries (which I don’t eat) and bread for making toast with margarine, (which I don’t eat), but I do eat the nuts and drink the coffee. Then everyone settles down and plays dominoes or Hand-n-Foot.  About 11 am or so the volunteers bring everyone a lunch and dessert.  Then we all play Bingo and get choice of prizes which have been donated.  It is good to get out of the house and be with people my own age, though nearly everyone is younger than I am. 

The afternoon church, The Church of God, 7th Day, Willis was celebrating The Feast of Tabernacles this last weekend.  So on Friday, as I don’t drive when it is dark, Lauri, my neighbor from the other morning church, drove me there, and she really enjoyed it.  She had only been to that church several years ago for The Lord’s Supper there.   The morning church that I attend isn’t going to celebrate the Feast until October the 24th.  It all depends which new moon is used in the calculations.

Lauri and I didn’t “tabernacle” in tents like some did.  (Tabernacle is a temporary dwelling or shelter, as a tent or hut.) But we ate supper in the rec hall, and went to a great service about the Feast of Tabernacles, with questions and answers, by the campfire.  It was a very enjoyable evening and then she drove me home. 

The next day,  I went back and had a great time
fellowshipping with the folks in the rec hall and we another Bible Study and prayers with one of the elders officiating. The one who owns the property where  it was being held.

 

Here I am with my hosts.

It is a lovely rec hall with a full kitchen which was a handy backup for the campers, as it rained quite a bit.  There were lots of children and, as usual, they were all very good during the services on the Sabbath which were held at the church a few doors down.  Afterwards most families went back to their “tabernacles”.  I took a Baked Potato Soup for the Friday evening meal, nothing for Saturday, and Cheesy Hashbrowns for the Sunday breakfast.  They made potato, egg and beef sausage tacos for the breakfasts, and beef hot dogs and burgers for the other meals.   There is a great big grill under a carport at the rec hall, so the men like to do that.  Then cakes, fresh fruit and cookies, too.

On the Sabbath, the Message was about “To Be Or Not To Be.”  It was about how so many people admire Shakespeare’s suicide-filled ficticious stories when they could be reading the interesting true stories in the Bible.  How Facebook and other empty social medias fill their lives when there are more important things to think about and study, like God’s Word.  And more important people than celebraties to admire and keep up with, like your church friends.

We all had a great three days.