Answered Prayer in Devastation

The third anniversary of the Joplin tornado has just passed and there are times it still evokes strong emotion in me.  I was blessed to meet with our very own storm chaser, Gerry Davis, and suffice it to say;  tornadoes evoke very different emotions in the two of us.

I had just sold the "starter-stead" the Friday before the tornado roared through Joplin, Sunday evening.  The north sky was very dark that evening as I did chores, and it was raining, but I had no idea what was taking place just thirty miles away.  It wasn't until later that evening, I turned on the computer to discover an F5 tornado had destroyed a vast portion of Joplin.  Three years later, much of the devastation is still apparent.

When I saw the path of the tornado, it occurred to me that the address of the young couple who had bought the place, was in that path.  The real estate deal was a simple one, as it was an owner finance situation.  I tried their number, but of course, the call would not go through.  My phone service was restored in a couple of days, but something happened Monday that cannot be explained in any other way, but the hand of our Heavenly Father.

That night as I prayed, my heart was so heavy, knowing there were so many people unaccounted for.  As it continued to rain, I thought of those who were trapped under rubble, not yet rescued.  I was also thankful though, due to the size of the class, the High School graduation had been held at the college that was not in the path.  The High School was destroyed by the tornado.  There were fatalities, but the number would have risen by hundreds, had the graduation taken place at the High School.  I also prayed that somehow, I could know if that young couple, who had bought the place, and their two children were safe.  Knowing, I was not a relative or anyone of significance in their life, I certainly could not contact any emergency services to make inquiry.

The next morning I awoke to a very dark cloud, and the Voice spoke from that cloud, "Man was not given domain over the skies, stop cloud seeding, weather is not to be in hands of man."  I posted that later in my updates blog.  Meanwhile, I knew Joplin needed supplies, and I was far enough away, my local Dollar Store wasn't wiped out, yet; so I did what I could to reduce their inventory and take it to Joplin.  There was a parking lot designated for emergency supplies, and there was a line, two actually.  One for those bringing supplies, and one for those in need.

As I moved forward in the line toward the drop off point, coming toward me in the other line, was the young couple and their children.  I can't even type this without being overcome . . . They had survived, as many had, in their bathtub.  The place where they had been living was no longer inhabitable, and their vehicle had been destroyed, but they were all alive and uninjured.

As I praised Adonai and thanked Him for their safety, and the safety of so many, I also thanked Him for that perfect timing.    

Denying Y'hshuwah Messiah is Not Exactly a New Concept

The Apostle John addressed the issue of denying Messiah in the first of his three short letters.  Paul mentioned it and named names at the time.  As I considered the latest wave of social media announcements of denial, my heart was grieved.  As I sought comfort, I came to a fuller understanding of Romans 8:26, and along with that fuller understanding, YHWH reminded me that this has been going on since Messiah came the first time and will continue until His return.

Many of us are aware, by now, that Constantine's Nicene council placed the first official wedge between the Christ of the New Testament and the promised Messiah of Israel.  Constantine is really the "father" of Roman Catholicism and by separating his Christ from Judaism in reality, designed a "mascot" promoting lawlessness, for his politically correct religion.  Popes were, for all practical purposes, worshiped . . .  The followers did not deny Messiah, but did "separate" Him from Torah.  A quick translation lesson here.   In the Hebrew: מָשִׁ֫יחַ  is transliterated Mashiach.  Mashiach translates to Messias, in both Greek and Latin, and I've already used the English translation, Messiah.  Christ is not really an accurate English translation of the Hebrew term:  Mashiach.

Without a great deal of research regarding the Dark Ages, the name of this period, alone; indicates the absence of "the Light."  It wa s time of illiteracy and superstition.  By the time the Protestant Reformation came to be, one of the best known names, Martin Luther, was openly anti-Semitic, thus even when translating Scripture for the common man, the division between the Messiah of Israel and the Christ of Christianity remained.  As factions separated themselves from the Roman Catholic Church, few actually changed much.  Sunday remained the day chosen for worship, as most Protestants did not return to Sabbath keeping, as the first century believers had done.  The Feasts remained "Jewish" rather than Biblical, even though Romans clearly states believers are grafted into Israel.

Separating the Instruction from the Example and Sacrifice has been done throughout history.  Sadly, now, we are seeing the renaissance of Pharisaic Judaism in the denial of Messiah, with one exception, and that exception is of everlasting consequence.  The Pharisees never acknowledged Y'hshuwah as Messiah.  Traditional Judaism clearly cannot see their promised Messiah in the Christian Jesus!  This wave of becoming a believer, to church hopping to Hebraic roots, to Talmud, to denial of Messiah is the path to which there is no return, and it is not the narrow path!

For those who have not yet recognized Messiah, there is still hope.  For those who have been deceived into believe Messiah rendered Torah obsolete, there is still hope, but . . . Hebrews 6:4-6 states for those who have followed Messiah, claimed redemption in Him, then chosen to turn and follow Him no more, there is no more hope of repentance.

The Eight Sabbath Basics

                                              Contributed by Dot Olsen

Stay in your place (different people have different applications for this, discussing whether this applied on in the wilderness or not, whether this commandment is directly attached to the manna or not)
Exodus 16:29
"Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.”

No cooking, which we infer from
Exodus 16:23
"He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’"

Do not work, do not compel anyone to work on your behalf
 Exodus 20:10 "but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns."  Leviticus 23:3 "Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings." Deut. 5:14

Observe
 Exodus 31:13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. Deuteronomy 5:12 ‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you."

Remember
Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."

Do not kindle a fire
Exodus 35:3 "You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

Nehemiah 13:15-21 gives a record of the Sabbath being profaned and this is where the prohibition is given to not spend money on the Sabbath. People may say that this commandment is not in the Torah so it is not valid but let us remember that the Torah is not the whole counsel of God, although the root of every commandment is no doubt found within the Torah. Torah means instruction and instructions found outside the five books of Moses are still the instructions from On High for our good.

Do not carry a burden on on the Sabbath
Jer.17: 21-27 21 Thus says the Lord: “Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22 nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction. 24 “And it shall be, if you heed Me carefully,” says the Lord, “to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it, 25 then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, accompanied by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever.26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and from the lowland, from the mountains and from the South, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, bringing sacrifices of praise to the house of the Lord. 27 “But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.”’”


***This is not an exhaustive list of Scriptures, it is meant to be a quick basic overview.***

Is This the Wake-Up Call?

To be honest, I've been out of the social programming of American mainstream medicine for so long, I was truly shocked at the figures and the expressions.  Our Creator has stated repeatedly throughout His Word that is our Healer.  Most of these figures are appalling.  I don't know how these people will be able to afford this Affordable Care Act.

http://www.bizpacreview.com/2014/01/31/watch-employees-react-as-they-learn-of-obamacare-premium-increases-97584

The Cost of Raising Children

The estimated cost to raise the last of the Baby boomers was $100,000.00 if I remember correctly.  Now it's estimated at nearly a quarter of a million dollars.  What I found both interesting and disheartening was that the major increase of expense boiled down to basically paying someone else to raise the children.

Maybe it's time to consider a new perspective . . .
Would our nation really be any worse off, if parents actually raised their own children and trusted G-d, rather than paying outrageous insurance premiums for health care?  Would children have so many illnesses and allergies, if they stayed home with mom through the early years, rather than institutional settings for care?  Would our nation really be any further dumbed down if more children were homeschooled?  Would our economy be any worse with fewer unemployed college graduates with student loans?

Below is a quote from the article and the link.
>>>While expenses in all categories rose in 2012, health care, education and child care spending increased the most. <<<

http://money.cnn.com/2013/08/14/pf/cost-children/index.html

Hold the Presses, This Just In!

                                                   by Gerald Davis

                 The Free Gift

I was at the store shopping today when suddenly I heard this slight voice come over the intercom of the store.  You could hardly hear it at all over the sounds of the store.  People were clamouring to get all their last minute Christmas shopping done, banging and clanging, talking loud on their cell phones, crying kids, the beep beep beep of the riding carts backing up.  Still something about that still small voice seemed to cut right through and I could barely make out the words, "free gift".  " to get your free gift, go to...table...  flashing light...  2 minutes" That is about all I could make out.

I found myself rushing through the crowd who seemed totally oblivious to the situation.  The store was giving away something for free and nobody seemed interested.  Nobody seemed to have heard.  They were all too busy with their own little world.  How had they not heard that there was a free gift to be given away?  Or, maybe they did not even care?  How can you not care about a free gift?  GET OUT OF MY WAY!  I thought to myself as people slowly meandered across my path.  Don't you people realize that I am on my way to receive my free gift?  Don't any of you want a free gift too?  I could hear the person on the intercom counting down...  45 seconds...  Where was that table at?   30 seconds...  It has to be here.  I know I am almost there!   15 seconds...   THERE IT IS!  

I scrambled down the aisle and made it to the spot where I could receive my free gift.A man came out to the table and looked  around.  He asked me if I was there for the free gift.  YES I AM.  But, nobody else was there.  The man looked sad and began calling out to people around him, does anyone here want a free gift?  I have a free gift to give away, won't anyone come over and receive it?  One or two other people hesitantly came over to the table.  The man at the table said, well, lets get started.  Maybe more will come for the free gift once I start.  We waited patiently as he began.

  A few other people came over to see what was going on.  What was this demonstration.  One lady in particular seemed quite skeptical and seemed to want to interrupt with smart aleck remarks.  A mother and her daughter kept getting sidetracked and joking with each other.  Another one or two seemed genuinely interested in what the man was saying.  Finally at the end of the demonstration he offered the free gift.  The one caveat, you had to step up to the table to receive it.  

People seemed a bit weirded out by actually having to step up to the table to receive their free gift, but eventually did.  Even the doubter finally walked up and received hers.  I think there was about 12 of us in all to receive the gift.  I even went a step further and bought into it the whole 9 yards, as did a couple others and totally bought what he was selling.  As I walked away with my new slicer and my free gift, I could not help but think how much that was like the offer of salvation . . .  

That still small voice speaking through the air within ear shot of everyone who was willing to stop and listen, available to anyone who was willing to listen and follow a simple instruction, free and clear to anyone who showed up to hear the message, to receive the free gift.  And even more, you had to make a personal investment if you were serious about the offer that was given and to get the full benefit of the message presented.  It wasn't about just the free gift, but about the whole package.Romans 6:23  for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John Q. Public

The Warren Commission was doubted very early on, even though such doubt really wouldn't be spoken in polite society until after the death of MLK and RFK.  Perhaps, sharing the name, gave me an urgency to know more or perhaps it was the call on my life, even back then; to seek truth.  

In 1967, we were taking a family vacation to Texas.  I was so excited for three reasons.  One, we were going with Grandpa and Grandma, and mom and dad behaved better on those trips.  Two, I was going to see the Gulf of Mexico and three, we were going to Dallas.  At the age of nine, recent history, was definitely of interest.

I was surprised, however; when my Grandpa took a stern voice with me, as we were heading toward Dealey Plaza.  As I mentioned in another article, Kennedy is my maiden name, which I of course shared with my parents and paternal grandparents.  His words raised a thought that day that has never been relinquished. Here we are, brown skinned tourists in Dallas, a people of very prominent proboscis, and actually looking far from wealthy white or of Irish descent.   My Grandpa, very sternly and seriously stated, "Don't tell anyone your last name."  I knew then, that statement would prove significant on more levels than my 9 year old mind could comprehend.  If the shooter was dead, and the shooter of the shooter was dead, what was still unresolved?

Lo, these many years later, I can look back and realize this fact.  Less than four years after the death of President Kennedy, and not a full three years following the official declaration of the Warren Commission, the idea that the murder was solved already did not resonate with at least one average citizen.   If Lee Harvey Oswald had lived to stand trial, clearly in the heart and mind of some average Americans, there was already a reasonable doubt.