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.

Our Government in Action . . .

In Reality, How Much Sense Does This Make?  The government is paying how many people, on how many shifts through the shut down to harass this private business?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/04/blue-ridge-parkway-pisgah-inn/2923169/

Not to mention government websites are being updated in regard to the shutdown.  I have been truly saddened to see the number of videos and articles that indicate the "marching orders are" to make this as difficult as possible, one way or another on the citizens.

Whether it was actually ever stated in those terms, the evidence and the actions speak quite loudly!

A Divine Appointment

Sukkot has been wonderful, even if I am sukkotin' solo!  It's been so much better than last year!

Last year, was so sad and painful on so many levels.  It was my first Sukkot alone in years, and I was still grieving the fact that my daughter had left to never return, and wondering if I'd see my grandkids again, before they were grown.  One of my friends who had been "sukkoting" for several years with me, even if not always in person; was in hospice care.  Then, as if that wasn't enough . . . After getting my sukkah all ready in the afternoon, I was just finishing up chores, when I broke my arm and a bone in my foot.  I broke my arm quite badly, so I didn't notice the foot pain so much til the bone began poking out the skin!  Last year was a rough Sukkot!  Yet it was still a very special time to be alone with my Creator and my Messiah who love me more than anyone ever could.

I gained a genuinely deep appreciation of just the fact that I was allowed to know about this special time.  He could be sitting up there on His throne, saying "Guess when it is and try to guess what pleases me!"  Our Heavenly Father loves us enough to tell us what pleases Him and what days belong to Him!

So this Sukkot, was different.  It wasn't about my pain at all, for which I am very thankful!  I was still alone, but I feel very confident that will not be the case next year.  Sukkot was different this year, in that I continued to function from the sukkah, on days that were not the High Shabbats.  I received a deeper understanding of just how temporary this wilderness journey truly is, and how amazingly awesome YHWH's provision and shelter are!  And HalleluYah, no broken bones, this year!

As this special week was coming to an end, I discovered an e-mail telling me about a meeting the next day.  With the next day, not a High Shabbat, I felt a tug of obligation to attend, but there was no address given, so I decided I'd call the next morning to inquire.  The next morning began a wonderful day, I shall not forget.

Wednesday morning I awoke early in the sukkah.  I love just lying there for a few minutes aware that I am in the sukkah.  I say good morning to Adonai and good morning to Y'hshuwah.  I came into the house to use the facilities, then following morning chores, came back in to make the phone call.  There was no answer, so I sat down to do some reading and wait.  I was already beginning the self talk of arguing against going, and a time limit for the return phone call was set.  The phone rang, and I lost that excuse, but since it was farther away than I had thought, I manufactured a new excuse, but left the option open.

I did a bit more around the place and decided I'd just head out and see what it was all about, so I did.  I was ready at any time to turn around, I don't know why, other than the flesh.  I know it was the flesh, for two reasons.  The blessings that transpired through this journey and the fact that I was looking for a religious reason to not go.  I got to the meeting late, because I went to the wrong building, but the people were gracious and I made some new connections for my business and a great advertising offer at no cost to me.  How nice is that?  After the meeting I decided I'd stop by Subway to get their special.  Five Dollar Footlongs, all month.  Now this was a great plan, in that the next day was Simchat Torah, and I wouldn't need to prepare any food ahead of time.  A footlong is two meals.  Dinner after sundown and lunch the following afternoon.  So, buffalo chicken was the plan with fresh cucumber salad from the garden!

It was in the Subway, I was blessed beyond measure.  A young man was ahead of me in the line and he had a pretty large order.  He looked at me, with my headcovering and tzitziyot and I looked at him with his beard and the "look," but no tzitziyot.  The awkward silence continued as we both sort of studied each other out of the corner of our eyes.  Finally, the ice was broken by a comment behind the counter.  Then he looked at me and complimented my tzitziyot.  I responded with a question about their Sukkot gathering and I thought he was mishpochah.  He stood there for a moment, looking almost embarrassed, saying his tzitziyot had been destroyed and a new set was being made, while he ran out for lunch.   I gave him a card and a bar of G-ma's Goatmilk Soap.  We chatted a bit more while they finished his order.  He looked at the soap, sheepishly grinned and after a pregnant pause, asked me if I was G-ma.  We parted wishing each other blessings, and all I could think was I'd already been blessed more than I would have asked or imagined.

Now, blessing upon blessing are  you ready for this . . . They were observing Sukkot, but it was in the yard of their new home, as they've recently relocated to the area!