Anchors Away!

Truth has a way of being drowned in a sea of logic, philosophy and tradition. Only God can establish truth through His word. Tradition is only as good as its source. That's why we can and should lean exclusively on the written word. Tradition can be as devastating as rumors unless they have been established by two or more witnesses. The Word of God was inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoken into existence by the Holy One and approved by the Father. There's three witnesses whose testimony cannot be impeached.

Identifying anchors in the pursuit of truth become impossible when we are blinded by our own viewpoints apart from the truth of God. Predispositions have no spiritual substance. We learn them through life when we accept tradition and ideas without searching through Scripture for the unbiased truth. If we hear something often enough it becomes fixed inside our brain until we are convinced it's truth. When we get to a place where it is more important to be right, even if right is wrong, then the path we walk on is no longer straight.

Truth has a way of crushing us, causes us to look inward, challenges us to lowliness and meekness. It demands inward repentance and therefore outward change. Truth doesn't put us on a soap box, demanding our rights and respect. Yeshua was the epitome of truth and it took Him to the cross like a sheep, yet ever since His voice has sounded like that of a Lion.

Nimrod represented the opposite of truth. "The taproot of violence is the hatred of truth." (Your Heart belongs to Me, by Dean Koontz) He didn't build a tower to get closer to God. The tower represented His ego and resentment against truth. We may not consider ourselves as on the same level as a Nimrod, yet we too can build high towers with brick and motor made up of logic, reasoning and tradition. Eber, a descendant of Adam refused to be hunted down with the lies and deception of Nimrod. It is most likely that from Eber the name of Hebrew was given to his Jewish descendants in his honor. From the line of Eber, Abraham, our father emerged.

There is nothing wrong with building family traditions. But Abraham never let tradition get in the way of obeying God. It is because of his obedience that the covenant continues through his line of descendants with the blessing on all peoples who put their trust in the God of Abraham.

Living by faith is as old as Adam. Every generation faced perplexing problems and opportunities in following God. Our forefathers made a future possible for us by obeying God. Eventually, God chose for His commandments, statutes, judgments and laws to be written down so everybody throughout the whole world would have a standard set of righteous instructions that our forefathers possessed through oral tradition.

When God's word was engraved in stone, tradition was put in a place of subjection to His word. Those who desire to obey tradition more than God's written word become like Nimrod, building their high towers to heaven in order to usurp their position over God.

Nimrod fell off his high tower--more like pushed-- and all his men couldn't put him back together again. All those who place tradition, logic and reasoning above the written word of God will also fall. Anchors can be like millstones around our neck, which take us to the bottom of a sea of eternal anguish. Our fathers made it a little easier--yet not less painful a process--for us, but still there are some who want to return to the religion of Nimrod.

Seek truth above all else and change if necessary. Instead of reading Scripture, try letting Scripture (God) read you. It takes courage and strength to follow God. Anybody can follow themselves. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Shalom.

BUY GOLD!

The works that God approves of have little to do with the amount of energy that man exerts producing them. From the book of Revelation Yeshua addressed the seven congregations in Asia. "I know your works." With the exception of two of the congregations, Yeshua demanded repentance. Faith is what pleases God. The result of faith produces godliness and that leads to persecution. Why? It is because faith produces works that get under the skin of unrighteous people. However, works doesn't produce faith. This is where the five congregations had gone astray.
The problem is that man is work oriented and less likely to lean on God for assistance until he digs a deep hole without out a clear exit plan. The difficulty is trying to focus on God when everything is going well. I'm pretty much focusing on God most of the time. Without too much help I can handle the little things like getting dressed, eating and bathing. I have long given up on the concept that I can produce a good work that merits satisfaction from my Lord. Been there and done that.
Doing good works can be a means of worthyizing ourselves. I know, that's not a word. But it rhymes with idolizing, so I'm going to use it! We convince ourselves we must do something to impress God. We are only attempting to please ourselves and/or impress others. Come on get honest. We know God can do anything He wants. What does He need us for? We just want to feel god--sorry I mean good- about ourselves through our good works. We can metaphorically pat ourselves on our back--or literally if you are double-jointed.
We simply are not worthy of God's grace. But He gives it to us anyway. For our works? No, for our faith! "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6) So how can we make ourselves clean through works? Can we go to work in the morning and come home more clean than when we left? "Wash, wash." Says Isaiah.
The word purify in the Hebrew is Khata. It means to make clean because of sin or missing the mark. We must purify ourselves through the living water (Yeshua) by which we shall never thirst again. Otherwise if you are going to work your way to heaven you will have to spend the rest of your life in the shower or bathtub. That's going to be a HUGE water bill, and then it will never get you clean enough. Besides, do you want to look like a prune? "'Come now, and let us reason together,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson they shall be as wool.'" (Isaiah 1:18) The internal elements of the female Coccus Ilicis (unclean insect) produces the color from which scarlet dye is derived. To the kosher Jewish person this idiom made complete sense. Though they were unclean like a pagan Gentile, God would make them clean. "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.'" (Isaiah 1:19) Willingness denotes faith and faith causes obedience and obedience produces righteous works. "But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword'" (Isaiah 1:20)
"Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw." (1 Cor. 3:12) Hay, wood and straw are the works we produce by our own hand. We can plant and harvest and fell timber all day long, but on judgment day the test of fire (purification) will burn all of these works up. The only works that won't burn will be the ones God creates: Gold, silver and precious stone. God is willing and quite able to produce these works through us. But we must be willing and obedient to the process through faith. Buy Gold! "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich..." (Rev. 3:18)
Faith without works is dead. James is comparing the works that come down from the Father of Lights with the fruit of the spirit from the book of Galatians. Read the book of James carefully and see if I am not right. You will find every spiritual gift from James that Paul alludes to in Galatians.
Yeshua says that He stands at the door knocking. Anyone who opens the door He will come in and have fellowship. Don't try impressing God with your furnishings, (works) nothing in your house (body) will be comparable to His Glorious presence. Shalom.

Why Do the Nations Rage? Part 2

The anti-messiah is identified as the "Lawless one," (2Thessalonians 2:8,9) which literally means "Without Torah." Sadly for two thousand years, because of the misguided efforts of a few Gentiles in the first three centuries the Torah has been defined as "Legalism," the way the Pharisees interpreted the Torah. Torah, as defined by Yeshua and the Apostles is the WAY of walking with God in the Spirit of His righteousness by faith apart from the works of the Torah. Moreover, the Torah is, in Paul's words, holy, good and just. Despite the efforts of Satan to abolish the Torah and make Christians believe it is a curse instead of a blessing to obey God's Law, (Torah) a remnant emerges in every generation that love God's holy , good and just Law. "Do we then make void the law (Torah) through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31) The law is not a curse, but those who seek to be justified by the law are under the curse of the law, having fallen from grace. Because the anti messiah opposes God he will appose His holy, good and just book of instructions, which leads sinners to God and in the Way of righteousness. Instead the anti messiah will desire to lead sinners to himself, so he must destroy the book that opposes the worship of himself as God.
"He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times (Feast Days) and law (Torah). (Daniel 7:25) The anti messiah will abolish the two most important means of knowing God and His redemptive plan.The Hebrew Calendar is based on lunar days of the month and is used to signify when the seven feast days fall. The last three of the seven feast days are yet to be fulfilled. The first four were fulfilled on the exact day of the feasts. It is not unreasonable to believe the last three will be fulfilled on the precise days. If the calendar and the feast days are abolished--and they will be-- by the anti messiah then it would be impossible to know when the feast of Trumpets that signals the last ten days before the Lord returns on the Day of Atonement. The Feast of Tabernacles will be fulfilled in the millennial reign of Yeshua in Jerusalem. Because the saints will have been worn out by the anti messiah, without a lunar calendar to calculate feast days, the "Day of the Lord" will come on a day that is least expected. The Law (Torah) will also be abolished because it speaks of the righteousness and holiness of God. The anti messiah will not want the competition to be around. The book of Amos speaks of this awful day upon which the anti messiah rises to power and claims to be God. "'Behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord, 'that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.'" (Amos 8:11) "And he will say, 'Hold you're tongue! For we dare not mention the name of the Lord.'" (Amos 6:10b)
The Torah and everything pertaining to biblical Judaism was abolished by the "Church Fathers" in 325 A.D. This fatal error alienated the "Church" from the commonwealth of Israel, rebuilt the wall that Yeshua had torn down, and paved a wide road that will lead to destruction for many. For over two thousand years God has had the displeasure of profaning His Heritage, that is His people of Israel for not accepting His redemptive work of salvation, for denying His Son, Yeshua, for continuing with stiff necks and uncircumcised hearts. Nevertheless God has also spoken ill of those who would show no mercy to His people. They will also receive condemnation because of their arrogance and slander against God's heritage. A future great apostasy that will have no concept of the prophetic significance of the fall feasts and the importance of the Torah will rise in the last days and will fall in line with the goal of the anti messiah. A philosophical ideology by the Church Fathers of "Replacement Theology" (That the Gentile Church replaced Israel) only managed to replace sound doctrinal principles with Gentile philosophy that was inspired by hatred for the Jewish people and ultimately the God of Israel.
God has described the players and positions in this final act before His return. We certainly cannot know every detail that will enfold in the last days, but we should be able to identify the season, the players, and the ideology of the anti-messiah, who is at work in this very hour. In the words of Daniel, the anti-messiah will wear out the saints and make war against them. These saints are those who love and obey God's commandments. They, having accepted the Torah (Godly Instruction) and the teachings of the "Apostolic Fathers," having dismissed the teachings of Church Fathers, will be able to identify the man of lawlessness and refrain from following him, suffer persecution and possibly death. Shalom.

A "Message" by Debbie Dillon

As I was reading Romans chapter ten out of “The Message” by Eugene Peterson, I was taken back by the striking similarities between Israel and the Gentile Church today. Even though Paul was actually addressing Israel, it occurred to me that this same passage would accurately describe the condition of the modern Christian church culture at this very moment.
I rearranged the words from the “Message” to correspond to the “Church,” as if to a certain extent the tables had been turned, and as if Paul were addressing the current mindset of today’s church culture. As a result, this gave me a snapshot of thoughts that had been ruminating in my own mind over this commonality. What began as a therapeutic exercise on my part became allegorical by its own state of affairs. D.D.



Romans Chapter 10: Believe me, all I want for the Christian Church is what is best for them. By this, I mean a vital living relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I want nothing more than for them to position their relationship with Yeshua (Jesus) in first place ahead, and in the front line over their church agendas. I pray for this often. I readily admit that the Christian church today is impressively energetic regarding God, but they are doing everything backwards.
They don’t seem to realize that this business of setting things right on the subject of salvation is God’s work, and He alone is capable of flourishing the seeds that are sown, if we are faithful in presenting it along the lines of His Character. But instead, we have salvation shops right across the street, noisily hawking their wares. After all these years of refusing to deal with God on His terms, discounting the Torah as a mere curse, they insist on making their own deals by assimilating into a pagan culture, all the while neglecting their own relationship with the God they are busily serving, and they have little to show for it. Most of it will be wood, hay, and stubble because they have become so caught up in the building of their church empires and protecting their specific church cultures. Trusting God to shape the right living in them is too simple for them to grasp, and in the process, they forgot what Moses was saying. By their very actions, the Church creates a stumbling block by misrepresenting who God really is. He is not a god made in to our own liking- our buddy, or genie in a bottle if we follow a certain formula. Neither is He someone we can manipulate with our prayers. He is very near, especially to the broken and contrite in spirit. But how can people around this type of church culture call for help, if they don’t know whom to trust? And how can they know Who to trust, if they haven’t heard the One who truly can be trusted by meditating on His beautiful Character? And how can they hear about nurturing such a relationship as their true focus, if they are too busy with church culture type agendas? This is why Scripture exclaims what we are meant to be: A sight to take your breath away, telling all the good things of God.
So the big question is, why doesn’t the Church culture understand that she has no corner on this salvation, or even this Message? Moses had it right when he predicted:
When you see God reach out to those whom you consider to be your inferiors-outsiders because they love the whole law, you throw religious temper tantrums, or give cold shoulders and icy stares. Isaiah said it well. People found and welcomed me, who never before really saw who I was with all your misrepresentations; and I found and welcomed them, once they discovered the Real Deal.
Day after day, God is beckoning the Church, just as He did Israel with open arms, and what is He getting in return for all His trouble lately? Nothing but cold shoulders, and icy stares.

We do not support the erroneous concept that the Church has replaced Israel. P.D.
Shalom.

Why Do the Nations Rage?

Though oral tradition and commentary has its place it certainly cannot supercede God's written word. Because the focus of our attention should be solely on God, rabbinical Judaism, Christianity and Islam would have a better concept of God if they would stop reacting negatively to one another's doctrines and instead react to God. When man turns the focus from God on to himself a state of spiritual indifference can develop, religions can be formed, and un-holy wars implemented. Nevertheless, oral tradition and commentary may help us better understand the mind set of certain people during and prior to the advent of who I believe to be the Messiah of God, who by His blood made atonement for the worlds sins, that through faith mankind can receive redemption.

Last week I touched upon the coming of the anti messiah in the last days. It may surprise some of you to learn that orthodox Jewish eschatology expects the appearance of an anti messiah to run adjacent to the appearance of their messiah. Though much emphasis is placed on the advent of their messiah, the appearance of anti messiah is played down. In some Jewish quarters it is denied all together. In Jewish eschatology the anti-messiah is called Armilus. Christian prophecy identifies the antichrist as the beast with the number of 666, while Islam anticipates the appearance of an anti-messiah, who they call "D'jal."

The Talmudic sages (Jewish interpreters of oral tradition) believed in the suffering messiah as well as the reigning messiah. They linked the suffering messiah to Isaiah 53, and even knew this suffering messiah by the name of Moshiach (Messiah) ben (son of) Yosef (Joseph). They also made a reference to this suffering messiah with Moses being a type of the messiah in that Moses was revealed in Egypt, was hidden, and then revealed again to the Israelites in Egypt upon which he took them out of bondage and toward the promised land. It should also be noted here that Moses died on a mountain, and Joshua, whose name is Yeshua in Hebrew, guided the believing Israelites across the Jordan river three days later into the promised land. This fulfilled the typology of the Messiah, who like Moses died on a mountain in Jerusalem, and Joshua, (Yeshua ben Yosef) who after three days in the grave would rise and eventually will reign in Israel on the throne of David after a period of being hidden from the Jewish people.

The Essenes who lived in a cloistered community in Qumran, from about 220 B.C. to 70 A.D. understood that the suffering messiah would be God manifest in the flesh and would make atonement for sins by his suffering. They understood this important aspect of God's redemption by sacrificial blood in the Temple sacrifices and because of the corruption involved during their day refused to participate. It is from the messianic teaching from the Essenes that the Jewish people anticipated the appearance of the suffering Messiah in first century A.D., which also fulfilled part of the 70 week prophecy from Daniel 9:24 of 483 years from the the decree to restore the walls to the year that Messiah would be cut off or die, which corresponds to the very year of Yeshua's death in Jerusalem. We know this suffering messiah to be Yeshua (God is salvation) ben (son of) Yosef (Joseph), who was married to Miriam (Mary). In the Christian world He is known as Jesus Christ, which is a translation from the Hebrew, Yeshua the Messiah.

I should note here that in the first century A.D. after the death and resurrection of Yeshua there were approximately one million believing Jews in Israel. After about seven centuries of persecution by both Orthodox Jews and Gentile Christians they were forced to return to Orthodox Judaism, assimilate into Gentile Christianity, or go underground. The consequences of not choosing one of these resulted in persecution and even death. Part two next week. Shalom.

Happy Hanukkah

Hanukkah, which is the Hebrew word for "Dedication" should embolden us to the miracle of a small band of righteous Jews who refused to assimilate into paganism. Without fear of death they fought against and defeated a much larger, better trained and equipped army of Antiochus Epiphanes.

The real meaning of Hanukkah is not lighting candles and or giving out presents to one another. Instead it should be a day that we dedicate (Hanukkah) ourselves by resisting mediocrity and compromise in the face of social and religious pressure, while expecting the miracle of victory against the odds of defeat.

Today, we as believers in the God of Israel, face as much danger of having our light taken away with what might seem small and insignificant compromises. The spirit of Antiochus Epiphanes is as much alive today as it was in the days of the Maccabees. Though subtlety infused throughout the past two thousand years, bits and pieces of paganism have sullied our white garments of righteousness by which we must repent and return to God.

Passover, Unleavened bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Day of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles are God's seven "Feast Days" that are holy and prophetic and have as much relevance in our walk with Yeshua (Jesus) as praying and fasting. The doctrines that came out of the council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. attempted to abolish the God of Israel's holiness as much as the efforts by Antiochus, who abolished the Torah. This same mind set will emerge when the antichrist, who is identified as "The man of lawlessness" (without Torah) rises to power. If the antichrist doesn't love the Torah how can we who say we belong to Yeshua (Jesus) not love the Torah. Let me illustrate my point with this question. If you were an employee at Walmart and came to work wearing a Safeway vest, would Walmart believe you were a faithful employee?

God is not calling us to fight in the physical sense, for our warfare is spiritual. We must put on the whole armor of God in order to fight against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. We can do this by living by faith apart from the works of the Torah, but learning and studying ALL the Bible and obeying God's commandments because we love Him. God loves us with His whole heart, mind and strength. All He asks from us is to return the favor and love our neighbor with the same passion--if that is possible--that He loves us. If we do this we will have fulfilled the whole Torah, for all of the commandments of God hinge on loving God and our neighbor.

If we adhere to God's way and not man's way, we will not stumble. Otherwise He may take the Menorah light from our temple (body) if we don't Hanukkah (dedicate) ourselves to Him and overcome the passions of this world. Though, like the Maccabees, our number may be small, our God is big. Even to Elijah's surprise, God had reserved 7,000 people who would not bow to Baal. God plus one equals a majority. Shalom.

End of Days

So how close are we to the end of days? I am not able at this time to disclose exact times and dates of the end. However, I feel with enough coffee in my system I should be able to reach the apex of prophetic timetable equations to intelligently disclose these dates with pin point accuracy sometime at or just after 21 December 2012 The fact that this date is the end of the Mayan calendar is coincidental. Eh hem. That's me clearing my throat in Hebrew. Actually, 2012 is the year I am eligible for Social Security. The government will go to no lengths to make sure I don't get any of my money back!

Seriously, I feel we are so close that I should be marking off days on my calendar. So far, I believe that the first three seals in Revelation have already been opened, and we shall most likely see the fourth open at or shortly after the 21st of December of 2012. The first seal, a white horse, was opened on 9/11/2001. The second seal, a red horse, opened 26 days later when America officially entered Afghanistan, and Iraq in March of 2003. The third seal, a black horse, was opened in September of 2008 when Wall street collapsed effecting the entire world.

Before the anti-messiah can rise to power he must make a covenant that will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. If my calculations are correct--I may be one coffee cup short of being right--we may see that very thing done on the 16th of March 2010. This is an 18th century prophecy by a rabbi, which the Israelites are taking very seriously. They intend to rededicate a very old synagogue next march in anticipation of this prophecy coming to fruition. The construction of the altar, a very important detail of the Temple, was begun last July 2009 on Tisha B' Av. All they need is a Red Heifer to cleanse the priests. Another Rabbi last year predicted that there would be no more mourning by the following Tisha B'Av, which is a day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of the first and second Temple, among other disasters that happened to the Jews on this date in history. The next Tisha B'Av will be in July of 2010.

I feel reasonably sure that the end, and by that I mean the beginning, should take place in 2017. I can't be more specific than that. I'm not going to put a day or an hour on this puppy. When it's time then the last Shofar (trumpet) is going to sound and the Lord is going to descend with a shout, the dead in Messiah will raise and then the living will go up to meet the Lord in the air. The question I have is, "Am I going to be going up first or second? I don't really worry about myself--too much. I worry a lot about my family. I hope my family loves God more than the world. That's the only thing that is going to save them through one of the most horrific times this world has ever witnessed. So, family, I love you. I hope you can count on God's grace and His love to get you through, because I truly believe that my generation will not pass away until all of what is recorded in the book of Revelation comes to pass.

This is a very exciting time of life. We are seeing, if you are looking, prophecy unfolding right before our eyes. We are told to WATCH by the Lord because you can only see these things with eyes open to spiritual truth. So WATCH for the construction of the Temple, and count off seven years to the end. We are going to be asked by God during this time a very important question. How much do you love Me? Shalom.

Parashah: Genesis 25:19 thru 28:9 Sol'dot (History)

Why did Yitz'chak (Isaac) love Esav (Esau) over Ya'akov (Jacob)? Did he see the blessing of God's covenant with Avraham his father going through the line of Esav instead of through Ya'akov? Of course Esav was born first and was in line for the firstborn blessing. But Esav was a wild man of the earth, a mighty hunter like Nimrod, a leader with the potential of being a ruler of nations. Whereas, Ya'akov (heel grabber) was a peaceful man, who spent his days indoors learning Torah: the commandments, judgments and regulations handed down through his ancestors. Should Yitz'cak have shown more insight?

Both Esav and Ya'akov wrestled from the womb. Ya'akov wanted the firstborn blessing for God's sake, whereas Esav wanted it for the earth's sake. Rivkah (Rebecca) may have had more spiritual insight into this matter, for she loved (or preferred) Ya'akov over Esav, being able to see that it would take the faith of her son, Ya'akov, to bring forth godly nations of peoples. A mother always seems to know.

Rivkah saw Esav's heart was not good. At fifteen years of age he showed little deference for God by selling his birth right to his brother Ya'akov for a bowl of red stew. Rivkah was able to see the difference between the two sons from an early age and using foresight she made the right choice even though it meant possibly receiving her son's curse if they were caught deceiving Yitz'cak, who was still determined to give the blessing to an undeserving Esav.

Having seen the godliness of Ya'akov, she determined by the revelation of the Ruach Hakodesh, (Holy Spirit) that Messiah must come through the line of her son Ya'akov. Indeed God would change Ya'akov's name to Yisra'el (Israel) (He turns the head of God) when he successfully wrestled with the Angel of the Lord.

God said he hated Esav (A type of the Adversary) and loved Ya'akov (A type of the Messiah). Yitz'chak's choice of the lineage passing through Esav was based on human reasoning, strength and endurance over spiritual attributes. Esav could bring Yitz'chak's favorite food torn from the life of the desert, but what could Ya'akov bring him of any physical value? But doesn't man wrestle with this same dilemma about God? Shouldn't we have the spiritual mind set of Riv'kah!

The world, much like Riv'kah's womb, wrestles with good and evil so much that at times the righteous must wonder if it is even worth living in such a world. Evil is born with the intent of, like Esav and Nimrod, ruling the world without God. This wickedness seems to prevail as we watch the world slowly advancing toward rebuilding the Tower of Babel (One-World-Government). The Adversary (Satan) prevailed in the womb of Riv'kah by bringing forth Esav, but God prevailed by bringing the blessing of salvation to the nations of the world through Yisra'el. Now, Esav, because he was the firstborn, must return for his blessing through the Adversary, who knowing he only has a short time, will attempt to bring the world to its knees. How will he do this? Like Esav, who loved physical life more than spiritual life and sold his birthright for a bowl of red stew, Satan will cause the world to grow faint with physical hunger, so that the world must decide if they want to sell their birthright of salvation by taking a mark on their hand or forehead and prolong their life for only a moment. Shalom.

The Talk Box

No objects were hurt during this fictitious account. It was written from boredom, having elected to unplug our television and pursue more worthy ventures, like reading and staring at the blank television screen. It is not easy making new habits and ridding oneself of old ones. I felt the television was eating up too much valuable time. Thirty-three days later I can say I made the right choice. I think. Okay, I’m all most pretty sure. Needless to say—but I going to anyway--it has proven to be as difficult a habit to break as my fifteen-year smoking habit, except I don’t have the urge to put the television in my mouth and light it. Not yet anyway!

I dreamed last night that I had heard voices in the living room. I entered the empty room and discovered the television was broadcasting a late night show. The power button was off, so I leaned behind the back of the set but found it had already been unplugged. After opening the door of our second story balcony, I lifted the television onto the railing and pushed it to the shadowy depths below. The sound of shattering plastic and glass reverberated off the apartment walls like a bombshell. I looked down onto the sidewalk, which was illuminated by a low wattage lamp that chased shadows from the serpentine walkway and cast yellow light across the dismembered box.

I watched to my horror as it began reconstructing itself before my eyes. Forming legs and feet that appeared vaguely human it turned toward our apartment, awkwardly lifting each prosthetic leg up toward its home. The electronic beast labored methodically upwards, placing each foot down with a thud like a meat cleaver against dead flesh. From behind it the electrical cord coiled and released like a viper searching the darkness for a place to insert its fangs.

The resurrected body of inanimate switches and wires pulsated with an alien life, breaking forth with melodious theme songs of past sitcoms and dramas. A myriad of familiar voices competed with each other, seeking mostly answers from me for their untimely demise and loss of future revenue from reruns. It was obvious they had come for vengeance. I shrunk from the door as it heaved in and out like lungs gasping for breath. Quickly glancing at the metal appendage as it vibrated from someone or something attempting to enter, I frantically searched my memory if I had dead-bolted it the night before. The brass digit of the door’s hand beckoned for my fleshy hand, but it was held captive to my paralyzed body.

Inhaling the black night into my aching lungs, I wondered when I had last breathed, and just how many more breaths I owned. The sarcastic voice of Dr. House, ever inquisitive, sought an answer to the length of time I had been pursuing a career in stupidity. Realizing the futility of intelligently sparring with the quick-witted master of verbal abuse, I feigned ignorance of the charge of telecide being leveled at me. Nevertheless, I wondered if the charges could hold up in a court of law.

I faintly detected the British voice of Dr. Cal Lightman of “Lie to Me” in the background, competing for my attention over House’s constant bantering. Dr. Lightman uses his soothing, not his condescending voice with me. “What about it luv,” Dr. Lightman wondered. “How about you open the door and we’ll clear this misunderstanding up forthwith?” I do not fall for this clever ploy, for I know if Dr. Lightman can see my face he will uncover my deception. Moreover, I am not all together sure that Dr. Lightman cannot transform himself into General Thade from the Planet of the Apes and squash me in his animalistic fury, for I am almost certain I heard the primal voice in the background. “Is there a soul in there?”

I heard the voices of Sarah Sidal and her partner, Nick, scheming ways of collecting my DNA. I sense House is growing impatient with Lightman and the CSI crew from Las Vegas. From behind me I detected the shuffling of feet from what I could only imagine was a disembodied entity. A captive actor had somehow managed to break free from its prison cell of electrodes. If I turned around I was sure I would be staring into the rehabilitated eyes of the genius Doctor House or the mocking expression of the Mentalist’s Patrick Jane. A familiar voice smothered the silence, as my heart skipped across my chest. The wall switch snapped and darkness yielded its strength to the light. Turning toward the invading presence I met the eyes of bewilderment and concern. “Honey, what are doing out here? Come back to bed.

My anxiety was calmed momentarily like a warm blanket on a cold night. My wife stood before me. Had I only been walking in my sleep? I peered into the living room and a cold chill spread its tentacles over my entire body. My brain resisted and throbbed inside my skull as I looked to the couch, where hours of Hollywood had entertained me. Across from it the oak cabinet that held the box of perpetual stories and seductive advertisements now only contained a rectangular impression formed in dust. The sliding glass door to the balcony was ajar. I slowly stepped out into the night.

Reluctantly I stretched my head over the railing to the ground below to glance the presence of an awakened neighbor, whose body was outlined against their doorway by a glaring security light. She nervously stared back at me. To my relief, the sidewalk below was free of any large object—living or dead. But when my eyes adjusted to the darkness I could make out a trail of glittering particles that snaked toward the bottom of our staircase. From inside the apartment wood snapped and splintered as the front door flew open from what I hoped had only been a gust of wind… The End!

Season's Greetings (Part 2)

So what is Hanukkah? We must establish here that Hanukkah is not a Biblical Feast Day. It is considered to be a re-dedication of the Temple, and is observed once a year as a memorial, much the same way Americans have an annual memorial for 9/11. "Now it was the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch." (John 10:22,23) The fact that Yeshua was in the Temple, observing Hanukkah, implies that He thought it was important enough to be present.

In 167 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes, a pagan King of the Seleucid empire in Syria, made a covenant with certain Jewish leaders that actually led to torture and death of many Jews. Antiochus proceeded to enter the Temple and sacrifice swine (unclean animal) on the Altar, placing a statue of Zeus inside the Temple. The historical account of the "Abomination of Desolation" is referred to in the book of Daniel. A future "Abomination of Desolation" will take place when the "Lawless one," enters the Temple that must be built sometime in the very near future.

A small band of Israelites, intially led by a priest named Mattathias Maccabee, fought against the army of Antiochus. After Mattahias died, his son, Judah, continued to fight, defeating Antiochus' army. Having missed the scheduled feast day of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), they decided to observe Sukkot (October/September) on the 25th of Kislev, (November/December) by re-dedicating and cleansing the Temple. This may have been inspired by the historical dedication of the Temple by Solomon on Sukkot, (1 Kings 8; and 2 Chron. 7) and that sacrifices were resumed on Sukkot after the return from the Babylonian captivity. During the re-dedication of the Temple the Menorah burned for eight days. With this in mind we must not consider Hanukkah as a replacement for Sukkot, thus placing it on the same level as a Feast day.

The Temple symbolizes the physical presence of Yeshua (Jesus) two thousand years ago. While standing before the Temple, Yeshua said that if you destroyed this Temple He would raise it in three days. Of course, He was speaking of His body, which would be raised three days after His death on the cross, as a sacrifice and atonement for the sin of the world. The idea that Yeshua, the Light of the world, may have been born on Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) places even more significance on Hanukkah, a week-long festivity of lights that is to never be celebrated with grieving and fasting.

For me Hanukkah is a day for observing the re-dedication of the Temple, which is symbolic of our Lord, Yeshua (Jesus). Even though some would say that there is no Temple on earth, let us consider the Temple in Heaven. (Revelation 11:19) My personal opinion is that we should not diminish this day or make it a replacement for Christmas, which was never observed for the first three centuries, nor has it ever been Jewish custom in those days to observe anyone's birthday. Doesn't it make more reasonable sense to observe a more Biblically oriented day, than to observe a day instituted and grounded in paganism, that thing which God calls all of His children out of in order to be holy? Shalom.

Season's greetings (Part 1)

It's closing in on that time a year of good cheer, lights and presents. Yes it's time for Hanukkah. What? Did you think I was going to say Christmas? Along time ago our family attempted to fore go celebrating Christmas. I began attending Bible College, and by the way we were treated you would've thought we locked our children in the attic and fed them gruel once a day! Eventually we succumbed to the social pressure, the unwanted stigma and a guilty conscience.

My wife and I were young believers, having just begun a relationship with the Lord. We wanted to obey God and stay true to His Word. We had two children at the time (Three more later) and it was incomprehensible to people that we would deny our children the most important "Christian" holiday of the year. It wasn't the fact that it was Jesus' birthday, but that our children would be deprived of gifts, a decorated tree, lights, Santa Claus, and Elves; all the symbolism of the birth of our Lord in a stable two thousand years ago. There He was on that cold, blistering day on a snow-filled December 25th, wrapped up in swaddling red and white clothing, Candy canes lining the crib, while Santa washed down a Fig Newton with a tall glass of goat milk, rollicking with a joyfully thunderous ho, ho, ho. In the corner presents were stuffed under the olive tree, decorated with lighted oil candles, Matzo balls and tinsel. Of course the three wise men arrived late (almost a year) because all of the market places along the way were sold out of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Who in his right mind shops on Christmas Eve?

Though we limited our observance of Christmas by not having a tree or sending out cards, limiting presents to one per family member, we felt compelled recently to fore go observing it all together. We shouldn't have as much pressure put on us by a society of confused parents, who don't understand why their children succumb to so much peer pressure at school and later in life-- I include my self. I should have stood my ground and not compromised. That would have been a valuable lesson to our children, not to mention obedience to God. Instead, we assimilated into a culture that, quite simply put, places as much stock in the Bible as our government does in the Constitution.

The "Winter Solstice" which was celebrated in Rome on December 25th, came on the heels of "Saturnalia," which was celebrated from December 17 to the 23rd. Many of the traditions (gift giving and caroling) of "Saturnalia" blended into the "Winter Solstice" so that it was difficult to differentiate between them. Saturnalia is the antithesis of Hanukkah. In 217 B.C. the pagan temple in Rome was dedicated to the god of Saturn. In 164 B.C. the Temple in Jerusalem was re-dedicated to the God of Israel. Moreover, we should be aware that Saturnalia, unlike Hanukkah, was a week long celebration of debauchery and wickedness that concluded with a human sacrifice. In the 4th century A.D. the Roman "Christians" thought that this would be a good day to set aside as the birthday of the King of Peace. This act of compromise with paganism testifies to the ungodly depths the Roman church had finally sunk. It hadn't taken long before the depraved values of a corrupt government had influenced the "Bride of Messiah," that had once driven the apostle Sha'ul (Paul) to reach with the gospel only a few centuries previously.

Jewish tradition states that Yeshua (Jesus) was conceived around the time of Hanukkah and was born on or around (Sukkot) the Feast of Tabernacles. This would have been August/September, not December. The fact that the shepherds were still in the field, is a clue that it wasn't winter yet. Actually, Hanukkah and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) have much in common with each other. So what is Hanukkah? I will explain in the next segment. Shalom

Judgment Day (Part 2)

Jury duty has come and gone. How did I fare? After an hour and a half car drive on a congested freeway, which should have only taken a half hour, I arrived at the court house via a short ride from the parking garage in a large coach bus filled to capacity. Arriving early at the garage, I was the first one on the bus. I sat in the front and watched each person step up and find a seat. Immediately I found myself attempting to read each face, thought twice about it, and realized how judging appearances is so ingrained in me.

I sat on a generic chair that had just enough cushion to keep my bottom and top from going to sleep. About three hundred prospective jurors sat uncomfortably in a large room called the "Juror Assembly Room." At 9:15 a.m. they began reading off seventy-five names, assigning numbers, and directing them to another room called the "Quiet Room." I wondered if they had more comfortable chairs. It certainly wasn't quite in our room with everyone shifting in their seat.

My name not being called, I patiently waited for the next phase of what I had anticipated would be a long and nervous day. I had become anxious after reading the proposed itinerary for the main trial. It would involve at least a week of jury selection, to be followed by a three month trial. I had only anticipated a one to four day trial, most likely not being chosen and fulfilling Arizona's "One-day" obligation. .

We were all given the opportunity of saying yes or no to the long trial commitment. Having Chronic fatigue for eleven years has had severe physical effects on my health. I haven't been able to work on a regular basis. I wanted to say yes, but knew the possibility of becoming sick during the trial could be an inconvenience to the court and uncomfortable for myself. As people answered "no" when their name was called, a woman that sat across from me just shook her head. I assumed this was a gesture of disgust, she would acknowledge a dutiful yes when called upon. I inwardly struggled with the right decision while maintaining dignity. The few responding with a "yes" received applause from some of the jurors. Normally, I would have succumbed to the peer pressure, rising to the occasion in order to please people's expectations while receiving accolades.

When my name was finally called I answered with a firm "no!" immediately I felt relieved. I knew I had made the right decision. To my surprise when the name of the lady that sat across from me was called she said, "no" confirming to me that conclusive evidence can't be derived from a person's expressions. After calling seventy-five more names for another trial--again I was not on the list--they brought the ones forward that had committed to the lengthy trial, then dismissed the rest of us, having only been there for less than half a day.

So I didn't get the opportunity to be on a jury trial. However, I did learn the importance of not reading anything into people's faces, trusting my instincts about myself and committing to a proper decision without being unduly influenced by people or my own desire to do more than I am physically capable of performing. The Lord takes us through practical experiences in order to teach applicable truths. Expressions are subjective reactions of inner responses to external circumstances. Our objective judgments are biased by our own preconceptions that hold no basis for truth. Because only God can see the heart, He is the only One capable of rendering true judgment. We are assuming the role of God when we judge a person's heart based on our own reasoning. Shalom

Judgment Day (Part 1)

Recently I received by mail the unanticipated Jury notice. It was as enthusiastically welcomed as a letter from the IRS. God had been speaking to me in this general area, so I wasn't totally surprised. Jury duty has everything to do with judgment--and that can be an icy slope toward catastrophic results. I believe that a verdict should be derived solely based on facts supported by strong evidence, instead of a verdict based on the preponderance of guilt by association and appearance.

I cringe when I read of a juror on a murder trial explaining the rationale for reaching a guilty verdict being based on the defendant's lack of remorse. What does looks have to do with rendering a just decision based on evidence? Instead of following evidentiary procedure, this juror felt compelled to base part or maybe all of their judgment on a person's demeanor.

I hope I don't get called for a murder trial. Mainly because they are so long and drawn out. I just want to fulfill my one-day obligation. But no matter what trial I am placed on, if indeed I am chosen, I hope that I will judge the facts and not faces. The natural tendency to illicit the truth from facial features may come from our desire to reach the truth by the shortest and least strenuous route. It takes more time to weed through facts. So let's just take a quick look-see...

Sometimes we fall into the trap of reading into a situation by the expressions of a person's face. It's second nature for those of us who had to learn this coping mechanism for surviving as children growing up in a dysfunctional home. However this skill isn't consistent with godliness. We are told to judge the fruit of a man's work, which implies we are not to judge the person.

Our personal problems of the past lie dormant in our subconscious and can surface in the most unproductive manner when we judge other people. We see ourselves in the people we pick apart because deep down we are identifying with the same issues. (See Romans 2:1) We should be aware of these situations and allow God the opportunity of making every aspect of our life complete by asking for His assistance in correcting our own deep-seated issues. Though it's a painful procedure, like any successful surgical outcome, it only ensures for a spiritually healthy life.

I desire to have this quality present in my everyday life, with people I come in contact with, my family and friends. Undoing the natural tendencies of judging people can only be accomplished by the acceptance of God's unconditional love. So I will give you an update to the outcome of my jury experience and let you know if I was able to practice what I preach. Shalom.

Torah Observance

I don’t believe we have understood God’s purpose of His Law, when at the end of the day all we can relate to God is that we haven’t killed anyone, stolen property or coveted our neighbor’s goods. Though that may fulfill the letter of the law, and receive applause in the moralistic secular world, it doesn’t quite qualify as obeying the spirit of the law.

We should be able to see God’s character in each commandment, statute and judgment. If we don’t it is most likely that we are focusing on ourselves and not God. The Law (Torah) is as holy, good and just as God, and every commandment exudes with His glorious attributes. A problem of ascertaining God’s holiness lies in the perplexing decision by the church to discard His law like an old, expired library book, and replace it with superficial teachings that lead to self-indulgence, self-esteem and self-righteousness.

If we are to have the mind of God, we then must emulate God’s character in our daily encounters, as if God himself is touching people’s lives through us. With the same heart felt passion that God loves and cares for us, we are to extend to others. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” means treat others with the same love that God is treating you with, for love is the fulfillment of the Law and covers a multitude of sins.

By grace through faith and submission to His will, we receive the gift of God’s attributes of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—what Paul alludes to as the fruit of the Spirit. “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Though good works are commendable, they are inadequate for attaining eternal life or heavenly rewards apart from faith alone in Yeshua, who completed the only work that cannot be equaled or surpassed by any mortal being. An imperfect human being, as we all are, cannot perfect himself by his own flawed merits. If this were possible, then it wouldn’t have been necessary for Yeshua, the perfect and unblemished Lamb of God, to shed His blood for the atonement of mankind. The perfection of God can only alter the imperfection of man and put him in a right relationship with Himself.

“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15,16) I believe that obeying God’s commandments, which shouldn’t be a burden to us, is expressing those godly attributes to others from a heart of faith. We are in essence putting on God’s holiness. This is proof that we are walking in the spirit and not in the flesh; and, in my humble opinion, defines what others might express as being Torah observant. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) Shalom

Truth Fishing

Truth-Fishing

Beneath the sedated water
Stirs a heart-quest
For the flush of the morn’
Boatman man rudder and sail
To courage the restless sea
On mighty oak and mortal nail
Truth-fishing
By compass for eternal serenity

The sun retires at eventide
Into a bed of liquid silk
Igniting the kingdom’s gate
With stars of twilight’s milk
A vast witness
Of Abraham’s promise
Dictated by God on pure slate
Sealed with a Holy kiss

Take rest and sleep in trusted hand
Sweet soul of mine
On peaceful virgin land
In endless time

By p dillon

God of my Being

My God
In You I am made whole
A completed soul

I am a grain of sand
On the edge of a sea
Of eternity
At hand

In You I boast
There is in no one beside
I care to abide
I care to host

Your work is my pleasure
You are my identity
My serenity
My measure

My work is belief
Faith your pleasure
I find my treasure
In Heaven’s reef

My God
My soul is satisfied
My spirit sanctified
My body mortified