Passover and Snakes

Molly, the cow, lowing in the barn, happy with her grain but disappointed to not be on her tether, grazing. Our oldest and youngest goats are bleating, upset that Farra has put her goat, April, out to browse. April's bell tinkles as she chews her way around the fresh spring growth, her belly full with her first kid(s), due within the next couple weeks.

The peepers are peeping, the chickens have settled in their coop with only an occasional squawk, the summer evening bugs are tuning their legs and voice boxes in preparation, the breeze is picking up and cooling down but still carries the light scents of spring. Damp earth. Grass. Sunshine. Daffodils. Forsythias along the drive.

All this revealed through my open bedroom window. I'm confined to bed, having hurt my back pretty bad yesterday morning. I could mope. I could fret about the work to be done in the garden, the seed potatoes that need to be cut and planted, the greenhouse plants that need hardening off, the barn addition that needs to be finished, the laundry, the whatnots... maybe tomorrow. Today Yahweh's granted me strength to focus on his blessings. =) And it's a Sabbath, so I wouldn't work on those things if I could.

Our family celebrated the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread today (aka Passover). It's a celebration of Yahweh's raising up the savior Moses to set free our spiritual brethren, the Israelites, from bondage in Egypt, as well as his raising up our brother Yahshua to set us free from our sins, to redeem us, to show us how to live pure lives, how to love. The unleavened bread represents a sin-free life. And it's tasty.

My parents also keep this feast and came out today to celebrate with us. I have no idea what went on while I was in bed, but did get to visit a little bit when they came in and I'm sure Bobby and the children had a good time with them. Family is awesome.

After my folks had gone, the three older children went to play in the creek. On these nice days they seem to spend every free moment by the creek. Atira spotted and Farra caught this groovy water snake.

MeMom had just reminded them today of our family tradition (instituted when I was a child) of rewards for the first snake of the season and the largest snake of the season. Can't just sight it, have to catch it and have witnesses. Here they are (in my bedroom), in their wet creek clothes, after discussing how to split the moolah.

Little Brook, just waking from her nap, wasn't too sure what her sister was holding...

Here's Farra, confirming snakey's identity with the Missouri Reptiles and Amphibians book: a Midland water snake, subspecies of the Northern (aka common or banded) water snake.  They have a gland that produces a disgusting smell (note Bobby, above).

Note: this is the largest snake my children have ever caught, though Farra was after a 4' black rat snake last summer. They are not allowed to pick a snake up unless they can identify it (and confirm it's non-venomous status).

Neither here nor there, but maybe of interest to someone... We have five venomous varieties of snake in our state, three of which are rattlers, one is the Copperhead and the other the Cottonmouth. The common water snakes are rather aggressive (the book says "pugnacious"), but fairly clearly distinguishable from the Cottonmouth. In my 20 years in MO, with much time spent in field, wood and stream, I have only ever encountered one venomous snake. A smallish Copperhead, last fall. It was crossing a paved hiking trail and the kids saw and recognized it immediately.

I grew up with snakes. I think they're fascinating creatures. I get this from my mom, who got it from her dad. Mom had boas and sometimes a python or two when I was growing up, as well as different local species at different times. Not just snakes but lizards, turtles, frogs, etc. Mom would take our menagerie to schools, camps, girls scout groups, whoever was interested, and teach about what she loved (with a creationist/young earth worldview hard to find in such educators today). It was incredible how folk's attitudes changed toward reptiles by the time Mom was done. Incredible how knowledge can help overcome fear. A teacher's aid or nurse that was so afraid of snakes that she wouldn't even enter the room (but listened from the doorway) would bravely come forward and touch the tail of a 6' boa. It was a neat time and I would love to see my mom do it again. When we moved to MO I had a hard time fitting in but soon was recognized as the "snake lady's daughter."  Who knows what that did to my future.  ;)

I admit, that although I like them I have never gotten used to holding them. Just don't care for the way they feel clinging to my bare arms or squirming in my hands. The only time I ever held one of our boas (the small one) was in front of my class, just to be cool. The only reason I caught them in the wild was for that reward.   One time I was hangin' with my aunt (mom's sister, who also likes critters) and we went into a Best Buy store with our hair done in high pony tails with baby Ball Pythons wrapped around them in place of ribbons.  That was fun, too.  In the hair they don't bother you so much.  When they start to hang down in your face they bother other people.

I carry on the family tradition in a fashion. Turtles are more my speed, and each spring, the first Sunday in May, we hold a box turtle race. Come one, come all. (No rabbits, please.) We have a check-in where we measure the turtles, check their species, assign a number and then the children can paint them. Prizes are for the winner of the race, the most colorful, the sleepiest turtle (for the poor kid who's terrapin never peeps out of it's shell), the largest and the smallest. It's been a big hit. We have other games, too, and I've been trying to work in more educational bits. I get a package of literature from the conservation department and hand it out. I hope this year I can display some other reptiles and amphibians and maybe get my Mom or friend Merry (another snake lady) to share. I hope I'll be out of bed by then.

Guess that was all kinda random... Just wanted to write. Thanks for reading. More later.

A Brief Look At The Worship And Glorification of Yahshua

A friend put this to me:  "I had a friend read your page and he said that he's heard your sort of perspectives before but also suggested  wouldn't it be wrong for Yeshua to allow people to worship him if he were not divine? He was refereing to the time when Christ entered Jeruselm before the crucifixion. What is your thought?"

I love these sincere questions and thought I'd share our answer here for others to consider.

First, about divinity. This is where the concordance comes in. In the NT you'll find the word divinity means "godlike." Well, Yahshua IS like our elohim, more so than any of us, though we are also made in Yah's image and called to be just like Him. I do believe Yahshua is divine. The problem is that most people see "divine" and "deity" as the same thing. LIKE god is not the same thing as GOD. So, really what we question is the teaching that Messiah is deity. IS he Yahweh, or just LIKE Yahweh?

The issue of worship is a fun one, I think you'll like it. Again, we use the concordance:

Hebrew 7812
שׁחה
shâchâh

(pronouced) shaw-khaw'

A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): - bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
Greek 4352
προσκυνέω
proskuneō
(pronounced) pros-koo-neh'-o

From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.

Nothing mysterious here. For starters, he wasn't being worshiped as elohim, but as king. And wasn't it right for Yahshua, the rightful king, the much anticipated anointed one, to receive the homage due him? Consider these verses:

Mat 2:2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."

Heb 1:6 And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, "AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM."

Being a humble man, he never sought worship, but always pointed to the Father, and others were quick to worship Yahweh because of Yahshua.

Joh 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 "You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Joh 4:23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
Joh 4:24 "Elohim is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

A look at the word "glorified" is helpful, too.

Greek 1392
δοξάζω
doxazō
(pronounced) dox-ad'-zo
From G1391; to render (or esteem) glorious (in a wide application): - (make) glorify (-ious), full of (have) glory, honour, magnify.

Mat 9:8 But when the multitudes saw this, they were filled with awe, and glorified Elohim, who had given such authority to men.  (Note "to MEN")

Mat 15:31 so that the multitude marveled as they saw the dumb speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the elohim of Israel

Yahweh intended to glorify Yahshua...

Joh 7:39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Yahshua was not yet glorified.

Joh 11:4 But when Yahshua heard it, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of Elohim, that the Son of Elohim may be glorified by it."

Joh 12:16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Yahshua was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.

Joh 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

But always turned the glory back to his Father...

Joh 12:28 "Father, glorify Thy name." There came therefore a voice out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."

Joh 13:31 When therefore he had gone out, Yahshua said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and Elohim is glorified in Him;
Joh 13:32 if Elohim is glorified in Him, Elohim will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.

Joh 14:13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Joh 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true Elohim, and Yahshua Messiah whom Thou hast sent.
Joh 17:4 "I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do.

I love this last one because it makes the whole thing abundantly clear. Especially, "that they may know thee, the ONLY true elohim, AND Yahshua Messiah whom thou hast sent." The gospel acredited to John (though  more likely written by Lazarus) is all about love and glory!

Act 3:13 "The Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Elohim of our fathers, has glorified His servant Yahshua, the one whom you delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.

1Pe 4:11 Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of Elohim; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which Elohim supplies; so that in all things Elohim may be glorified through Yahshua Messiah, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Anyway, there's tons more, but you get the idea. Do note that there was a time that Yahshua WAS NOT glorified. His hour hadn't come yet. If he were Yahweh in the flesh, he would have been a glorified being from the beginning, wouldn't he?

Whatcha think?

Why I Don't Go To Church Anymore

I found the following article as a link on the sidebar of a blog I read.  My usual disclaimer applies - I haven't read anything else at this website and don't know anything about them, so follow links at your own discretion (always!).  That said, I thought this piece was very well written, kind of speaks my thoughts (in a more gentle fashion than I could write), and might hit the spot for some of you.  Enjoy.

Why I Don't Go To Church Anymore: Living in the Relational Church - Part 6

By Wayne Jacobsen
BodyLife • May 2001

Dear Fellow-believer,

I do appreciate your concern for me and your willingness to raise issues that have caused you concern. I know the way I relate to the church is a bit unconventional and some even call it dangerous. Believe me, I understand that concern because I used to think that way myself and even taught others to as well.

If you are happy with the status quo of organized religion today, you may not like what you read here. My purpose is not to convince you to see this incredible church the same way I do, but to answer your questions as openly and honestly as I can. Even if we don't end up agreeing, hopefully you will understand that our differences need not estrange us as members of Christ's body.

Where do you go to church?

I have never liked this question, even when I was able to answer it with a specific organization. I know what it means culturally, but it is based on a false premise--that church is something you can go to as in a specific event, location or organized group. I think Jesus looks at the church quite differently. He didn't talk about it as a place to go to, but a way of living in relationship to him and to other followers of his.

Asking me where I go to church is like asking me where I go to Jacobsen. How do I answer that? I am a Jacobsen and where I go a Jacobsen is. 'Church' is that kind of word. It doesn't identify a location or an institution. It describes a people and how they relate to each other. If we lose sight of that, our understanding of the church will be distorted and we'll miss out on much of its joy.

Are you just trying to avoid the question?

I know it may only sound like quibbling over words, but words are important. When we only ascribe the term 'church' to weekend gatherings or institutions that have organized themselves as 'churches' we miss out on what it means to live as Christ's body. It will give us a false sense of security to think that by attending a meeting once a week we are participating in God's church. Conversely I hear people talk about 'leaving the church' when they stop attending a specific congregation.

But if the church is something we are, not someplace we go, how can we leave it unless we abandon Christ himself? And if I think only of a specific congregation as my part of the church, haven't I separated myself from a host of other brothers and sisters that do not attend the same one I do?

The idea that those who gather on Sunday mornings to watch a praise concert and listen to a teaching are part of the church and those who do not, are not, would be foreign to Jesus. The issue is not where we are at a given time during the weekend, but how we are living in him and with other believers all week long.

But don't we need regular fellowship?

I wouldn't say we need it. If we were in a place where we couldn't find other believers, Jesus certainly would be able to take care of us. Thus, I'd phrase that a bit differently: Will people who are growing to know the Living God also desire real and meaningful connections with other believers? Absolutely! The call to the kingdom is not a call to isolation. Every person I've ever met who is thriving in the life of Jesus has a desire to share authentic fellowship with other believers. They realize that whatever they know of God's life is just in part, and only the fullest revelation of him is in the church.

But sometimes that kind of fellowship is not easy to find. Periodically on this journey we may go through times when we can't seem to find any other believers who share our hunger. That's especially true for those who find that conforming to the expectations of the religious institutions around them diminishes their relationship with Jesus. They may find themselves excluded by believers with whom they've shared close friendship. But no one going through that looks on that time as a treat. It is incredibly painful and they will look for other hungry believers to share the journey with.

My favorite expression of body life is where a local group of people chooses to walk together for a bit of the journey by cultivating close friendships and learning how to listen to God together.

Shouldn't we be committed to a local fellowship?

That has been said so often today, that most of us assume it is in the Bible somewhere. I haven't found it yet. Many of us have been led to believe that we can't possibly survive without the 'covering of the body' and will either fall into error or backslide into sin. But doesn't that happen inside our local congregations as well?

I know many people who live outside those structures and find not only an ever-deepening relationship with God, but also connections with other believers that run far deeper than they found in the institution. I haven't lost any of my passion for Jesus or my affection for his church. If anything those have grown by leaps and bounds in recent years.

Scripture does encourage us to be devoted to one another not committed to an institution. Jesus indicated that whenever two or three people get together focused on him, they would experience the vitality of church life.

Is it helpful to regularly participate in a local expression of that reality? Of course. But we make a huge mistake when we assume that fellowship takes place just because we attend the same event together, even regularly, or because we belong to the same organization. Fellowship happens where people share the journey of knowing Jesus together. It consists of open, honest sharing, genuine concern about each other's spiritual well being and encouragement for people to follow Jesus however he leads them.

But don't our institutions keep us from error?

I'm sorry to burst your bubble here, but every major heresy that has been inflicted on God's people for the last 2,000 years has come from organized groups with 'leaders' who thought they knew God's mind better than anyone around them. Conversely, virtually every move of God among people hungering for him was rejected by the 'church' of that day and were excluded, excommunicated or executed for following God.

If that is where you hope to find security, I'm afraid it is sorely misplaced. Jesus didn't tell us that 'going to church' would keep us safe, but that trusting him would. He gave us an anointing of the Spirit so that we would know the difference between truth and error. That anointing is cultivated as we learn his ways in his Word and grow closer to his heart. It will help you recognize when expressions of church you share life with becomes destructive to his work in you.

So are traditional congregations wrong?

Absolutely not! I have found many of them with people who love God and are seeking to grow in his ways. I visit a couple of dozen different congregations a year that I find are far more centered on relationship than religion. Jesus is at the center of their life together, and those who act as leaders are true servants and not playing politics of leadership, so that all are encouraged to minister to one another.

I pray that even more of them are renewed in a passion for Jesus, a genuine concern for each other and a willingness to serve the world with God's love. But I think we'd have to admit that these are rare in our communities and many only last for a short span before they unwittingly look to institutional answers for the needs of the body instead of remaining dependent on Jesus. When that happens do not feel condemned if God leads you not to go along with them.

So should I stop going to church, too?

I'm afraid that question also misses the point. You see I don't believe you're going to church any more than I am. We're just part of it. Be your part, however Jesus calls you to and wherever he places you. Not all of us grow in the same environment.

If you gather with a group of believers at a specific time and place and that participation helps you grow closer to Jesus and allows you to follow his work in you, by all means don't think you have to leave. Keep in mind, however, that of itself is not the church. It is just one of many expressions of it in the place where you live.

Don't be tricked into thinking that just because you attend its meetings you are experiencing real body life. That only comes as God connects you with a handful of brothers and sisters with whom you can build close friendships and share the real ups and downs of this journey.

That can happen among traditional congregations, as it can also happen beyond them. In the last seven years I've meet hundreds if not thousands of people who have grown disillusioned with traditional congregations and are thriving spiritually as they share God's life with others, mostly in their homes.

Then meeting in homes is the answer?

Of course not. But let's be clear: as fun as it is to enjoy large group worship and even be instructed by gifted teachers, the real joy of body life can't be shared in huge groups. The church for its first 300 years found the home the perfect place to gather. They are much more suited to the dynamics of family which is how Jesus described his body.

But meeting in homes is no cure-all. I've been to some very sick home meetings and met in facilities with groups who shared an authentic body life together. But the time I spend in regular body life I want to spend face to face with a group of people. I know it isn't popular today where people find it is far easier to sit through a finely-tuned (or not so finely-tuned) service and go home without ever having to open up our life or care about another person's journey.

But ultimately what matters most to me is not where or how they meet, but whether or not people are focused on Jesus and really helping each other on the journey to becoming like him. Meetings are less the issue here than the quality of relationships. I am always looking for people like that wherever I am and always rejoice when I find it. In our new home in Oxnard, we've found a few folks and are hopeful to find even more.

Aren't you just reacting out of hurt?

I suppose that is possible and time will tell, I guess, but I honestly don't believe so. Anyone who is engaged in real body life will get hurt at times. But there are two kinds of hurt. There's the kind of pain that points to a problem that can be fixed with the right care - such as a badly sprained ankle. Then there's the kind of pain that can only be fixed by pulling away - as when you put your hand on a hot stove.

Perhaps all of us have experienced some measure of pain as we have tried to fit God's life into institutions. For a long time most of us hung in there hoping if we tweaked a few things it would get better. Though we could be successful in limited ways during moments of renewal, we also discovered that eventually the conformity an institution demands and the freedom people need to grow in Christ are at odds with one another. It has happened with virtually every group formed throughout the history of Christianity.

Are you looking for the perfect church?

No, and I don't anticipate finding one this side of eternity. Perfection is not my goal, but finding people with God's priorities. It's one thing for people to struggle toward an ideal they share together. It's another to realize that our ideals have little in common.

I make no secret of the fact that I am deeply troubled by the state of organized Christianity. Most of what we call 'church' today are nothing more than well-planned performances with little actual connection between believers. Believers are encouraged toward a growing dependency on the system or its leadership rather than on Jesus himself. We spend more energy conforming behavior to what the institution needs rather than helping people be transformed at the foot of the cross!

I'm tired of trying to fellowship with people who only view church as a two-hour a week dumping ground for guilt while they live the rest of the week with the same priorities as the world. I'm tired of those who depend on their own works of righteousness but who have no compassion for the people of the world. I'm tired of insecure people using the Body of Christ as an extension of their own ego and will manipulate it to satisfy their own needs. I'm tired of sermons more filled with the bondage of religion than the freedom of God's love and where relationships take a back seat to the demands of an efficient institution.

But don't our children need church activities?

I'd suggest that what they need most is to be integrated into God's life through relational fellowship with other believers. 92% of children who grow up in Sunday schools with all the puppets and high-powered entertainment, leave 'church' when they leave their parents' home? Instead of filling our children with ethics and rules we need to demonstrate how to live in God's life together.

Even sociologists tell us that the #1 factor in determining whether a child will thrive in society is if they have deep, personal friendships with nonrelative adults. No Sunday school can fill that role. I know of one community in Australia who after 20 years of sharing God's life together as families could say that they had not lost one child to the faith as they grew into adulthood. I know I cut across the grain here, but it is far more important that our children experience real fellowship among believers rather than the bells and whistles of a slick children's program.

What dynamics of body life do you look for?

I'm always looking for a people who are seeking to follow the Living Christ. He is at the center of their lives, their affections and their conversation. They look to be authentic and free others to hurt when they hurt, to question what they question and to follow his voice without others accusing them of being divisive or rebellious. I look for people who are not wasting their money on extravagant buildings or flashy programs; where people sitting next to each other are not strangers; and where they all participate as a priesthood to God instead of watch passively from a safe distance.

Aren't you giving people an excuse to sit home and do nothing?

I hope not, though I know it is a danger. I realize some people who leave traditional congregations end up abusing that freedom to satisfy their own desires and thus miss out on church life altogether. Neither am I a fan of 'church hoppers', who whip around to one place after another looking for the latest fad or the best opportunity to fulfill their own selfish desires.

But most of the people I meet and talk with are not outside the system because they have lost their passion for Jesus or his people, but only because the traditional congregations near them couldn't satisfy their hunger for relationship. They are seeking authentic expressions of body life and pay an incredible cost to seek it out. Believe me, we would all find it easier just to go with the flow, but once you've tasted of living fellowship between passionate believers, it is impossible to settle for anything less.

Isn't this view of church divisive?

Not of itself. People make it divisive when they demand that people conform to their revelation of truth. Most of us on the journey are accused of being divisive because freedom can be threatening to those who find their security in a religious system. But must of us aren't trying to recruit others to leave their congregations. We see the body of Christ big enough to encompass God's people however he calls them to gather.

One of the things often said about traditional church is that Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in American culture. We only meet with people who look like we do and like things the way we do. I've found now that I have far more opportunity to get with people from a broader cross-section of his body. I don't demand others do it my way and I hope in time that those who see it differently will stop demanding we conform to theirs.

Where can I find that kind of fellowship?

There's no easy answer here. It might be right in front of you among the fellowship you're already in. It might be down the street in your neighborhood or across a cubicle at work. You can also get involved in compassionate outreaches to the needy and broken in your locality as a way to live out his life in you and meet others with a similar hunger.

Don't expect this kind of fellowship to fall easily into an organization. It is organic, and Jesus can lead you to it right where you are. Look for him to put a dozen or so folks around your life with whom you can share the journey. They may not even all go to the same congregation you do. They might be neighbors or coworkers who are following after God. Wouldn't that kind of interconnection among God's people yield some incredible fruit?

Don't expect it to be easy or run smoothly. It will take some specific choices on our part to be obedient to Jesus. It may take some training to shake off old habits and be free to let him build his community around you, but it is all worth it. I know it bothers some people that I don't take my regular place in a pew on Sunday morning, but I can tell you absolutely that my worst days outside organized religion are still better than my best days inside it. To me the difference is like listening to someone talk about golf or actually taking a set of clubs out to a course and playing golf. Being his church is like that. In our day we don't need more talk about the church, but people who are simply ready to live in its reality.

People all over the world are freshly discovering how to do that again. You can be one of them as you let him place you in his body as he desires.
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Miss Molly Moo

Now that my camera batteries are recharged, here's a couple more pics of Molly.

Trying to taste the camera...  I wonder if I'll always think this is adorable?

Visible Signs of Spring

Brought home our spring batch of pullets (female chicks).  Two dozen (I hope to sell eggs later this summer). Mostly Barred Rocks, some Rhode Island Reds, Black Autstralorps and Buff Orpingtons.  (As a side note, we kept a Buff Orp. rooster last year out of our batch of straight runs because I'd heard they were gentle.  We have had no problems with this guy.  He is not agressive at all!)  An old laundry basket by the woodstove works good for the first day or two while I get their main box set up.  They're now on my sewing desk in a back room, in an old dryer box from the local furniture store (moving soon to a frig box).   

I like the fun colored eggs (we also get white), but the Arucanas are so anti-social!  They stay far away from people and they only lay in the coop if I keep them locked up, which doesn't work with my free range approach.  I'll probably sell them when the others start laying.  The one Barred Rock hen that I got last spring is my favorite - so personable!  That's why I opted for more.

After the May 8th storm ("derecho") took down my clotheslines last year (well, the storm took down trees which took down the clotheslines), and I was so busy cleaning with everything else, I don't think I hung any laundry out.  They're up now and here's my first bit o' laundry hanging in the breeze.  Behind that  you'll see part of the garden, freshly tilled.  Look past the garden and you'll see a couple goats.  We're expecting kids mid-April.  That's always the crowning moment of spring around here!

Babies running around outside in cloth diapers surely means spring...

Some other recent shots...

Little Brook munching a homemade (is there another kind?), whole wheat choc. chip cookie.

Seth washing dishes...

Royal and Atira hammin' it up...

Interesting

Saw this posted elsewhere...

"The message of salvation started out as relationship restored with Father Yahweh.
It then went to Greece to become a philosophy,
it went to Rome to become a religion,
it went to Europe to become part of tradition and culture,
and to America to become an enterprise."


(author unknown)

The Good Moolly Cow

I'm going to tell you about our new cow and our well earned Sabbath.

Been talking about getting a family milk cow for a few months. I checked newspapers, craigslist, and asked around and there wasn't much out there. I'd located one little Jersey heifer for sale (I'm now buying goat milk from this lady - mine have one more month to go), but, sweet as she was, she was just a little too expensive for a heifer that can't even be bred until this summer (add $300 if you want to wait and buy her bred). We had pretty much decided it would be more sensible to hold off until next year and invest this year in improving the barn and running some more fence.

Wait three days... When have we ever done the sensible thing when it comes to homesteading?

Wednesday night I was unwinding after dinner and decided to hop on the "farm & garden" section of craigslist to see what I might find, cow or otherwise. (I don't do this often, usually only when I'm looking for a particular item, and can only attribute my random bouts of classified "window shopping" to my dear dad who must have passed the habit on. Is it learned or is it in the blood, I wonder?) Lo and behold, there was an ad for two Jersey heifers, bred to calve in June. No price. Three hours away.

(Wouldn't it be easier if I just told you, "Hey, we bought a cow. I'm very excited." Do I really have to tell you ALL the details?)

I called. Same price as the expensive heifer listed above (the "buy now" price, not the bred price), but being bred already to a Jersey bull made her a much better deal for the price. We could have milk this summer. And, the family runs a dairy farm and we had six heifers to choose from. The downside, as it turns out, is an animal that's not quite as well-handled and used to people as the spoiled little thing my milk lady has.

I talked to Bobby. I played with our finances to see if we had enough "extra" from our tax return (aside from what we set aside for bills) to do this. We did. Just enough, plus some for gas to get down there. It means we don't get a new water heater, the extra fencing will have to wait, and Bobby has to zip right back to work. I read some more of my cow books before bed. I dreamt cow dreams. I woke up very excited and begged my husband to make a decision. "I'm counting on you to make the final decision," I told him. "I admit I'm too excited to see this situation clearly. If you think it would be wiser to wait, I will accept that. I can tell you we have the money, we have a place to put one, we have food to feed one, and barring tragical accidents we will make our money out of one, and last but not least, I really want one!"

Bobby is not a very talkative or expressive fellow, so I can't tell you anything interesting about his response. He seemed reluctant to take the responsibility for the final decision and after the first shrug and disinterested, "I don't know," and my gentle prodding for an answer, he gave me the go-ahead. '"You'd better call the guy." Wahoo! A decided answer from my phlegmatic spouse is a rare and much sought after item around here!

We told the guy we were coming later in the day (if not that day, we wouldn't have a chance until the middle of next week and we wanted first pick). Now, how are we going to bring this thing home? Thank Yah for friends with cattle trailers! After some arranging, picking up the trailer, listening to our sweet cattle friend tell us that Jerseys are the meanest cows in the world and that if we want a good milk cow we should get a Holstein (though he's had much experience with all sorts of animals, he's a beef guy, bless his heart.  I love him so!), we were on our way. It was lunch time. Kind of a late start.

The three hour drive took four, hauling the trailer. We were racing darkness. We were surprised by the sheer number of cows packed onto this backwoods dairy farm. We were sad when the owner lady said, "they're a little on the scrawny side because we haven't had the money for grain." Oh dear. Interestingly, on the phone, her husband told me they feed mostly hay and grass, not much grain, because they don't like to "push" their girls.

I'll rabbit trail just for a minute because I've been painfully aware the last few months of the state of modern farming and dairying, and the source of our food is a subject dear to my heart. This woman had called me after I talked to her husband to tell me that they needed to be paid with a cashier's check because they had a lien on the cows that her husband had forgotten about. She said they'd had a really hard winter and had to "hawk" their cows to make it through. "We used to be able to just sell whatever we wanted and now we have to talk to the loan officer first." I told her we had intended to pay cash anyway and she said that was fine, they just couldn't take a personal check.

I think their dairy is probably a good picture of what's going on across America. The dairy, like I said, was small and packed. They milk (by machine) only about forty cows. You can tell they cared about the cows, but that the driving force behind everything they did was to make money. And not money to excess, but money just to stay afloat. And failing at that. The milk man was coming to pick up their milk just as we were leaving. I had asked her who they sell their milk to (a company on the MO/AR line I was unfamiliar with) and she explained how they pay not only by butterfat content but also by protein content, unlike most companies. I thought that was interesting. I didn't ask what they were paid for their milk. I'm probably better off not knowing.

I have a lot of thoughts on large-scale dairying, but if you're interested in that sort of thing you've already read it all elsewhere. Dairying on a small scale, providing untreated milk and milk products for our family, selling extra to friends and family.... now, that's what I'm talking about!

Where was I? Oh, the six heifers. One was smaller and the owner wanted to keep her after all. One was bred later than the rest and bred with an Angus bull, and although cheaper we ruled her out because we wanted milk sooner (and the possibility of a purebred heifer we could sell). So really it was only a choice of four nearly identical heifers. Thankfully, the heifer decided for us. Curious as cats, the lot of them, the one we picked left the others and came to the gate to check us out. She was a little wary of being touched, but not afraid of us.

I should speed this up a bit because the really interesting part happened much later, as my facebook friends are aware! It was tricky to get her in the trailer, but we succeeded. She was totally freaked out the whole way home. I can't praise Bobby enough for his careful driving! He drove as if his own children were in that trailer. The three-turned-four hour drive turned into a five hour drive. We got home just after 10pm. Ugh. I guess there is something to be said about buying local. I definitely was thinking about my milk-lady's heifer on the way home! I still felt like this was a good deal and would work out.

All the kids got a good look at her before we went into the house. Royal commented that she was a "huvvy one" (all my kids have said "huvvy" for heavy and I think it's so dear). I agreed and said she was very strong (they're suppose to be twice as strong as a horse the same size) and that someday we'd teach her to pull a cart. He laughed like this was a most absurd idea and told me, "She can't pull a cart! She doesn't have arms!"

I thought it would be best to let the cow settle down in the trailer overnight. We could deal with her in the morning. I still wasn't sure if we should put her in the barn in a stall (which she wouldn't be used to) or if she should go in our little pasture (we'd put the goats in the barn). I had some reservations about our lazy fencing... anyway, I just didn't want to think about it, I was so tired! Everyone but Bobby was in bed by 10:30. I left Bobby with a cow book opened to instructions for making a rope halter. That might have been a mistake.

Around 12:30am Bobby walks into the bedroom, waking me from a dead sleep, saying, "So, is there any reason she can't go into the pasture tonight?" I grumbled something about it being better to wait until morning and he said, "because she's already in there." I wasn't very happy about it, still didn't think it was a good idea, but I guess I just couldn't clear the sleepy fog from my head to think it through and since he seemed confident and happy with what he'd done, I promptly fell back asleep. That might have been a mistake, too. (The words "homesteading" and "mistake" are commonly used together.)

I woke up around 5:30am and Bobby still hadn't come to bed. Not unusual for him, but I never rest well when he's up so I got up to see what he was about. He walked in the front door as I came out of the bedroom and informed me with an incredibly exasperated, discouraged look on his face, "The cow is gone."

Around 2:30, as he was doing some bible study at the dining table, he heard our outside dog barking (Pyr outside, Dane inside). (Me, gently: "You left the dogs out? Don't you remember me reading to you how cows don't like dogs?" This was my only "you should have" comment the whole time - this poor guy knew his mistakes and was suffering terribly without any help from me!) He went out to see what was up and poor moolly cow had gone AWOL. Our saggy fence was sagging a little lower in one place where she had gone over and her tracks were in the mud just outside of it. Unfortunately, we found NO other tracks, the whole time we searched for her, in spite of the mud!

I quietly returned to bed and began praying fervently. Prayer definitely made the difference for me yesterday as there just wasn't much I could do. I wanted to fret, but the more I prayed the more confident I became that whatever happened, things would be okay. I had peace. Because I turned to Yahweh, I was an encouragement to my family instead of an emotional drain. Bobby was more discouraged as each hour passed without any news or clue. He was also feeling the effects of not having slept. My parents came out as well as my sister and her husband (with their baby and his two older kids that were visiting). I held the fort and went about my usual Sabbath preparations (doubling just about everything I was preparing in order to feed the search crew). I was already a little behind because we'd spent the previous day picking up this cow. It hurt physically (back's still whacky), but was good to be busy.

It was rainy and cold. The guys and older kids searched the woods all around our place. They talked to the nearest neighbors. One neighbor offered his 4-wheeler (we declined, as it wouldn't be much good in the thick woods) and said that if we still hadn't found her he'd saddle his horses the next day (today) and help us search. We've only met this guy once (though is wife happened to be the Hospice nurse with my grandpa when he died). He's so nice! I love the sense of community here.

It was afternoon, my parents and sister and her kids had gone home. Vince stuck around and helped Bobby, who was nearing the point of dysfunction from stress and sleep debt. They drove off to talk to some more neighbors and saw our heifer in a field with some beef cattle almost two miles from here. (Remember the Sesame Street song, "One of these things just doesn't belong here, one of these things just isn't the same"?) They stopped the truck, called the call she was familiar with (I had asked when we bought her) and she came trotting up to the fence, with the Herefords following her. They pulled into the drive and Bobby hopped the fence and got her haltered. They ended up contacting the owner of the field, who explained how she showed up that morning. He stuck her in with his before he went to work (good neighbors will do this, instead of leaving the stock to wander). He said he'd help them get her after work. That gave us just enough time for a nap.  =)

I have rarely seen a man so relieved as Bobby looked when he came home and announced that our moolly cow had been found. I was very, very glad, but I think I was the least surprised of the lot. When you're confident in what your heavenly Father can do, it pleases you but doesn't surprise you when he does it!

Bobby walked her home. It was still raining.

We tied her in the big stall in the barn (she makes our goat barn look kinda small). She wasn't too fond of that, but we felt better knowing she couldn't get away. She calmed down and got used to the barn noises (guineas will freak anyone out!) and I went out several times to obsess over check on her. She lets me love on her a little more each time I go out. This morning I got a chest measurement (not to fit her for a bra, but to estimate her weight - she is a little scrawny and I want to keep track of her gain) and she didn't mind me poking around.

We decided (unanimously) that her name should be Molly (as we already have a Royal Payne). This was derived from "moolly." I'd been calling her moolly cow since the moment we met, because of a poem in one of the kid's books.

         The Good Moolly Cow

by Eliza Lee Follen (1787 - 1860)

Come! supper is ready
Come! boys and girls now,
For here is fresh milk
From the good moolly cow.

Have done with your fife
And your row de dow dow,
And taste this sweet milk
From the good moolly cow.

Whoever is fretting
Must clear up his brow,
Or he'll have no milk
From the good moolly cow.

And here is Miss Pussy;
She means by mee ow,
Give me too some milk
From the good moolly cow.

When the children are hungry
Oh who can tell how
They love the fresh milk
From the good moolly cow.

So when you meet moolly
Please say with a bow,
"Thank you for your milk,
Mrs. Good Moolly Cow."

(There's another about a mooly cow - with one L - from the same time period, called "The Cow-Boy's Song.)

I have always liked my goats (and they have their pros over cows), but when I started reading about keeping a family milk cow, and talking with people who have kept both goats and cows, I began to think a cow was definitely the critter for me (I'm talking about personality, but let's not leave out my fondness for butter). I especially thought so when I met a milk cow face to face. Mom (who has kept both) and I were comparing them one day to cats and dogs. My impression of a Jersey cow, and she confirmed this, was that she was like a really big dog. Goats seem to have that independent, "I could just as easily get along without you" nature that cats have. They have minds of their own and seem harder to get close to. Some people (cat people) like this about them and treasure their relationships with goats. I like my goats, like I said, but I think I'd like them a lot less if they didn't give milk! A cow (a Jersey, anyway) seems to me much more affectionate and personable. I understand they become one of the family and I can definitely see this happening here at Make-It-Do Farm. The fresh milk, butter, cream, yogurt, cheese, and yearly calf are side benefits.

(A side note about our farm name.  We painted this on our 12 passenger van.  One day while at the feed store, Bobby was waiting for me to come out and he overheard a boy of about 10 or 11 reading the van.  It sounded like this.  "Make...  take away ... it... take away... do... farm."   Are we the only ones who found this hilarious?)

We plan to continue keeping goats. The meat is fantastic, the milk is great for babies and they're a nice size for the children. When we start milking the cow we might sell our only horned goat, however. She came to us with horns and although she's a great goat in every other respect and our main producer, she does toss her head around and hurts the littler children. We've disbudded all our kids so our other two does are horn-free and the children love them.

Enough about our cow adventures... 
For now.

Is Yahshua Actually Yahweh in the Flesh?

There is soooo much here, folks.  More than we could possibly share in one, or even a dozen, blog entries.  With your bible, your concordance, and a sincere desire to know the truth, you can learn as much as you want on this topic - please don't limit yourself to our writings!  Our purpose in sharing this is two-fold.  One, we just want to whet your appetite.  Two, we are so excited!

Because there is so much to cover, we thought we'd start by sharing portions of a letter we wrote to a friend.  We had sent our friend a letter covering basically what I covered in my "Being Berean - The Trinity" post, as well as a list of 100 scriptures that prove Yahshua isn't Yahweh in the flesh (you can find the list here - note, we do not affiliate with the folks who put this site together - in fact, we don't know much about them at all - just happened across this page). Below you'll find the questions our friend responded with, as well as our answers (and whatever we have to add to make it clear for our blog readers).   Enjoy!
-----------------------------------------

Sorry if we weren't entirely clear last time. It's taken us some time ourselves to weed through the details of various doctrines (a label comes with certain assumptions that may not be accurate) and get to the bottom of the issue. For instance, are divinity and deity the same thing? What is sovereignty? What is meant by oneness? Can someone be 100% man and 100% elohim?

We have come to believe that Yahshua is not Yahweh in the flesh. (That right there would have us stoned in many Constantinian churches!)  We do believe Yahshua is the savior and messiah that Yahweh provided for us. We do believe he is from Yahweh and therefore divine. We do not believe he IS Yahweh and therefore is not deity, as Yahweh alone holds that title. We believe Yahshua is 100% man and therefore cannot be any percent deity. More on that later. We also believe he is sovereign, as his kingship was given to him by the Father.

Now you have even more questions. But let's get to your letter...

Savior

Should our redemption then be found in man whose breath is in his nostrils (Is 2.22) rather than our salvation being in Yahweh, maker of heaven and earth?

You mentioned these:

Isa 45:17 Israel has been saved by YHWH with an everlasting salvation; You will not be put to shame or humiliated To all eternity.

Isa 45:22 "Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am Elohim, and there is no other.

There are also these, and probably more:

Isa 43:11 "I, even I, am YHWH; And there is no savior besides Me.

Hos 13:4 Yet I have been YHWH your Elohim Since the land of Egypt; And you were not to know any elohim except Me, For there is no savior besides Me.

And when we consider passages that show Messiah to be our savior, it seems reasonable that they (Yahweh and Yahshua) must be one and the same entity, since we cannot have two elohim. However, we found that neither of them hold exclusively the title of savior in scripture. Consider:

2Ki 13:5 And YHWH gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.

Neh 9:27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

Oba 1:21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be Yahweh’s.

None of these refer to Yahshua or Yahweh as savior, as far as we can see, and some of these are even pluralized. Sometimes the sending of saviors is seen as occurring in the past (for instance in the verse from Nehemiah), thus providing further evidence that the saviors being referred to were NOT the Messiah prophesied elsewhere as a future event.

So we know that Yahweh is our savior, the question then is how does he save? Apparently it’s not unusual for him to raise men up to do the job. The Hebrew word used in all these references is "yasha" (H3467). Yahshua is the promised savior of Israel in the NT - Acts 5:31, 13:23. We don't see a conflict here, nor do we see that they have to be the same entity.


From Eternity

But as for you Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." Micah 5:2

This very verse says that from Judah one will go forth for Yahweh to be ruler. In his "goings forth" from long ago, we found that the Strong's word used there can also mean "family descent," which to us seems to fit better with the whole of scripture. Thus, the verse would read, "His family descent is from long ago, from the days of eternity." Luke 3 shows us that Messiah's lineage does indeed go back to Yahweh (specifically vs 38), including Judah.

Was Yahshua from eternity or 100% man through Joseph and Mary.

Um.... Yes. =)

Hebrews 7 seems to say Yahshua was Melchizadek.

We don't know a lot about Melchizadek. We've heard that he was one and the same as Yahshua, but we're learning to question everything we've heard! We do note in Hebrews 7 that he was made like the son of Elohim. Also, vs. 11 says there was another priest of the order of Melchizedek. That, along with the fact that Yahshua does have a genealogy, parents, beginning of days and end of life, makes us think they can be nothing but separate beings. Anyway, there seems to be a lot in the (endless!) genealogies that we have yet to unpack, but if we start with examining the virgin birth, it does narrow down the options.


The virgin will be with child...

Isa 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.


The fact that millions of women have become pregnant and have given birth by means of their husbands is not an amazing sign but rather the way of reproducing mankind. For it to be a sign of any significance it seems to need to be out of the ordinary.

(From Bobby's notes)

We've read that the earliest accounts of Matthew and Luke said nothing of the virgin birth. Here is why I believe that to be true: First of all Matthew supposedly quotes Isaiah 7:14 as a messianic prophecy. You've already recognized that the word "virgin" could mean maiden:

almah (H5959) possible to be virgin, but usually maiden or young woman.

betulah (H1330) impossible to be anything but virgin


Yet, the issue of the Hebrew word almah is unimportant compared to the context of Isaiah 7:14, for it is firmly and irrefutably placed in Isaiah and it doesn't seem possible it could be legitimately used anywhere as a messianic prophecy.

The facts seen from the context of Isaiah 7:1 - 8:8:

1.  Isaiah is speaking to Ahaz, king of Judah and tells him that the sign of the virgin birth will be for him, Ahaz. This fact alone makes the application of Is. 7:14 to the birth of Messiah impossible since Ahaz had been dead some 700 years before Yahshua was born. Yahshua's birth would not have made a very good sign for a dead guy.

2. The entire context refers to the specific issue of the prophecy regarding what would happen to those who were plotting against Judah, of whom Ahaz was king.

3.  Only a few verses later, in 8:3, we see the birth that was prophesied, that being the birth of Isaiah's son with his second wife. So, if 7:14 were at the least a near/far prophecy then Mary would not have been the only virgin to give birth. If we apply virgin in the "betula" sense to Mary, we must do the same for Isaiah's wife (was his child Yahweh in the flesh, too?).

4.  Isaiah 7:16 and 8:4 are almost identical, proving them to reference the same event, that Yahweh would eliminate the threat posed to Ahaz by Ephraim and Damascus.


5.  It seems the only way Isaiah 7:14 can be used as a Messianic prophecy is to completely rip it from it's context.


6.  Yahweh calls either Isaiah or Ahaz "Immanuel" in 8:8.


Incidentally, the idea of a virgin birth is not strictly a Christian concept. Consider these virgin births from history: Buddha, born of virgin Maya; Horus, born of virgin Isis; Attis, born of virgin Nama; Adonis, born of virgin Myrrha; Krishna, born of virgin Devak; Quirrnus, Indra, Mithra, Zoroaster, all the pharaohs, all Greek emperors, even Alexander the Great were all supposedly born of virgins, probably more. Another popular theme in pagan religions is elohim procreating with mankind. In Gen 6 the sons of elohim lusting after the daughters of men was not a good thing. It was part of the reason Yahweh destroyed the world by flood. Now it seems Christianity claims that Yahweh did a similar thing with Mary.

(On a side note, we're finding there's a pretty even split among those Messianics who don't believe Yahshua is Yahweh in the flesh; some do still claim the validity of the virgin birth. Admittedly, it's hard for some to believe that scripture could have been so twisted.)

With this in mind, is it any wonder that this most important doctrine is included with the rest of the Greek paganism that entered the church? We're finding that many scriptures that would be better translated one way are instead translated with a Trinitarian slant. Yet aside from a handful of these sorts of scriptures (like Micah 5:2) and this apparently false prophecy in Matthew and Luke, the idea of Yahweh himself coming in the flesh is strangely absent from the whole of scripture. Really! Think on it.


You know that sometimes what is not said is as important as what is said. Fishy virgin birth aside, we only have come across one other mention in scripture of an elohim coming in the flesh and it ain't purdy, ma friend.

Act 14:11 And when the multitudes saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The elohim have become like men and have come down to us."

Act 14:12 And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

Act 14:13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

Act 14:14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out

Act 14:15 and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you in order that you should turn from these vain things to a living elohim, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.

Now, maybe they were just upset that they were the ones being worshipped, but wouldn't this have been a good time for them to explain that Yahshua was the elohim in the flesh to whom they owed homage, if such a thing were true?
I know it's hard to comprehend this Yahshua-as-just-a-man thing at first because it seems that we must accept the Yahweh-in-flesh doctrine to accept Yahshua as Messiah, but after a bit of studying and reexamining of what we "thought" we knew, everything (so far) has fallen into place and it really makes clear a lot of things that had been unclear to us in the past, things a lot of people struggle with in trying to make sense of the Trinity. It's also a touchy topic because Yahweh and Yahshua's very characters are being questioned either way and that's a hard place to be for anyone who loves them.

And he shall be called....

When Isaiah 9:6 says that Yahshua's name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Elohim, Eternal Father, etc., we don't feel it's saying that Yahshua is the eternal Father, but that he has the characteristics of Yahweh. The word "name" in scripture seems to imply the character rather than merely a form of address. In Lazarus 17:11-12 Yahshua, when praying to the father (explain that?), twice refers to "your name, the name which you have given me."

Incidentally, this passage includes the oneness theme that we find elsewhere in scripture, but does oneness mean that Yahshua IS Yahweh? He prays that we (his sheep) would be one the same way he and the Father are one. This gives us an idea of what kind of oneness we're talking about - if we can be one the same way Yahshua and the Father are one, then I don't think it means they're the same person, rather that they have the same character.

The Image of Elohim, Creator Yahshua?

(From Bobby's notes)


Eikon (image)1504

Col 1:15 And He is the image of the invisible Elohim, the first-born of all creation.


Col 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him.


Col 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

a likeness, a statue, profile, representation, resemblance, pattern, portrait, image as in reflection, or image as in the mind, similitude. note: none of these are equal to the genuine article.

prototokos (firstborn)4416
first born, birthright, inheritance rights of the firstborn, first begotten, rights of the firstborn.

If Paul was trying to say that Yahshua is YHWH, why did he not just say so? Did he not shoot himself in the foot if he meant to have people believe that Yahshua is YHWH by using the word

Eikon in this verse? Are we not the image of YHWH?

1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image (eikon) and glory of YHWH: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Does that mean that I'm YHWH? Same word used! Of course it doesn't mean I'm YHWH. The same understanding we come to in 1 Cor. is what he intends us to come to in Col 1:15

First born

Exo 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith YHWH, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

Psa 89:27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

Jer 31:9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Rev 1:5 And from the messiah Yahshua, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

If we look at the context, don't we see many first born spoken of in the bible? Now, is Paul speaking of a preexistence or is he referring to the fact that Yahshua, having been raised from the dead by YHWH (Yahshua's Elohim), is the firstborn of the dead? Yahshua was the first to be raised from the dead into eternal life, therefore giving all that follow his footsteps of faith and obedience hope that they will follow him into a resurrection of eternal life.

Col.1:16

here we have to look at a few words again

En 1722
in, at, on, by, about, after, against, almost, altogether, among, as, before, between, by all means, for the sake of, because of, through, when, where

Dia 1223
dee-ah'
through, with, for, the ground or reason that something is or is not done, by reason of, on account of, for the sake of, for this cause, because, because of, etc note: this often refers to the reason for something

So, in essence we have:

Col 1:16 For the sake of him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created on account of him, and for him:

We see a similar Trinitarian "translator's choice" in Hebrews.

Heb 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through (dia - "for, because of,") whom also He made the world.

Heb 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Heb 1:4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

Heb 1:5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, "THOU ART MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE"? And again, "I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"?

The whole of this passage (and much besides) of Hebrews supports a man-Yahshua. "Exact representation of his (YHWH's) nature," words such as "inherited, son, begotten, father," Yahshua sitting at Yahweh's right hand. And subtle but important phrases such as, "having become as much better than the angels." Wasn't Yahweh already better than the angels? (Similar to the idea of Yahshua learning obedience and being made perfect, Heb 5:8-9) Scripture is FULL of these things!

Equality with Elohim...

(again from B's notes)

Php 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Messiah Yahshua,

Php 2:6 who, although He existed in the form of elohim, did not regard equality with Elohim a thing to be grasped,

Php 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

Php 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Form? Isn't that the same theme as an image? Let's see shall we?

Morphe H3444
Shape, nature, form, character, outward appearance

Couldn't Paul just as easily be saying here that even though Yahshua appeared as elohim (which is used for kings, judges and yup, you guessed it, even satan) he did not take advantage of the situation (being a king from the line of David he could have claimed a throne) instead he humbled himself and became like an obedient servant (like an average every day Joe Shmoe) instead of Elohim (king), so obedient that he died in his obedience to YHWH's command? Couldn't he have profited by claiming his kingship here on earth? Isn't that humbling yourself, having that much influence yet not using it to your advantage? Don't verses 9-10 show that Paul did not think that Yahshua was YHWH by differentiating the two?


And the Word was Elohim...

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim.


Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with Elohim.


Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(B's notes again)

key elements to see here is that what is translated as "word" is - logos 3056

1) something said 2) a topic 3) a reasoning 4) motive 5) computation 6) devine expression 7) treatise 8) utterance 9) word 10)work

Let's read that again shall we?

In the beginning was the plan (motive), and the plan (motive) was with Elohim, and the plan (motive) was Elohim.

We can only know Yahweh or his plan by reading his Torah (divine expression). Therefore his plan (motive) is the very manifestation of himself. Yahshua, as the perfect servant, revealed the character more than any other man, however, everything he did and preached was accomplished within the sphere of YHWH's divine plan (logos) (just as we are to do!). The rendering of logos to "word" in John 1:1 is not as logical unless one is already predisposed to believe in the Trinitarian view, and intentionally biases the translation to support a mysterious inner meaning. Greek writer Heraclitus first used the term logos around 600 bc to designate "the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe" So here we have a historic proper understanding of the term logos as divine thought, plan, or motive. This rendering is logical (it makes sense) and removes the cloud (albeit man-made) of mysticism from YHWH.

Also are we to believe in the preexistence of Yahshua?

Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even YHWH, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 1:21 Who by him do believe in YHWH, that raised Yahshua up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in YHWH.

Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

So, from revelation 13:8 are we to believe that Yahshua was slain before the foundation of the world physically? I don't get that from these. I see that YHWH had a plan (motive) and that plan (motive) was with YHWH in the beginning, before the foundation of the world.


* * * * *

That about covers the scriptures you presented in your letter (and then some, eh?) and we're sure (we hope!) that you'll have more questions.

Bobby has another question for ya: Can Yahweh be tempted to worship Satan?

We've considered many aspects of these doctrines. Besides the ones we've touched on in this letter we've also looked into the significance of "I AM," worship of Yahshua, the immortality of Yahweh, the temptation of Yahshua, as well as why the modern church believes what it does and why they won't let go of their traditions (not unlike the Torah issue). We're very excited by what we're learning. It's so neat to watch the pieces of the puzzle snap into place!

I think one of the scariest things about studying this belief for me (K) is not wanting to let go of who I always thought Yahshua was. I had to pray fervently that Yahweh would forgive me my mistakes and any lies I'd inherited, while helping me to know and understand him better. It’s sobering indeed to realize that you might have been worshiping a man as deity or that you might swing too far and not give Yahshua his due credit and respect.
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     I hope and pray this has benefited my blog readers in some way!

Jesus made a new commandment?

The following was posted over at Standing At The Crossroads, a blog I like to read from time to time.  Gail shares some interesting things.
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Has anyone else puzzled over this passage?

John 13: 34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

After all , we know Torah says do not add to or take away from the commandments of YHVH. And Deut. 13 tells us not to listen to a false prophet. So what's up?

For me, the answer came when I looked up the Greek word in that John passage for "new". Then it began to make sense. The word for "new" in that passage is *kainos* #2537 : new (especially in freshness). It's the same word as in 1 Cor. 11:25 "new" covenant.

It has the meaning of RE-newed, like the moon renews itself every month. To denote respect to age (brand new), there is another Greek word, *neos*, #3501, which is not used in either of those places.

So if it's a renewed command, that implies that there was an original command, right?

Leviticus 19:17 " 'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.

18 " 'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

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As the Living Torah, Yahshua is re-affirming and bringing even more understanding to the written Torah! He is defining how this love will look - it will look like how He loved us! And He is making it a criteria for discipleship to Him. And that provides great harmony between the Torah and the gospel of John!

I hope this blesses you as much as it blessed me!


Gail
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Well put, Gail!  Thanks!

Being Berean - The Trinity

Acts 17:10-12 And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

I think we should be as the noble-minded Bereans, examining the Scriptures (what we call the "old testament") daily to see if what we find in the "new testament" (both in our Bible and in the world today) lines up. Without this benchmark we can be and are swayed by every wind of doctrine. Without this, we have every man doing what is right in his own eyes (and, more often than not, sadly, claiming he was "led by the spirit").

As Bobby and I have studied we've are constantly challenged to question what we believe and why, no matter the cost. Most recently (over the last several months) we have examined scripture to try to understand Christianity's #1 doctrine: the Trinity. More to the point, the teaching that Yahshua is Yahweh come in the flesh. (Years ago we studied the Holy Spirit and came to the conclusion that it is not an individual person, merely Yahweh's spirit. It's not my intention to "go there" in this entry.) This doctrine is apparently so significant that most theologians say if you don't believe in the deity of Yahshua, you cannot call yourself a Christian. Interesting. (Notice the lack of “Christian” in my labels in the “about me” section?)

I always thought Christmas was a prime example of how Christianity has forsaken Yahweh’s word and clung to it’s pagan roots. Later, when we studied what is possibly Christianity’s second most popular doctrine, that good boys and girls go to heaven and bad ones burn in hell for eternity, we were sure we’d struck on an even greater example (sorry to burst your bubble – you won’t find this teaching in the Bible – try looking elsewhere, like Greece). We were also quick to consider Christianity’s forsaking Yahweh’s law (Torah), including his Holy Sabbath.

So, no sooner had we become “Christian” then we found ourselves unable to really fit into any local body of believers we met. Not to say we didn’t learn and grow with others in the areas of love, compassion, patience, etc, learning about marriage and parenting and other good things. Just that everywhere we went we asked enough questions (some out of a sincere desire to know the truth, some to challenge others to seek the same) to make others uncomfortable. We believe Yahweh has led us the whole way and that everywhere we’ve fellowshipped has been perfect for the season Yahweh intended.

Even after walking this wacky road ten years, we were taken aback by the absurdity of the Trinity doctrine, little prepared for the pagan origins of the church’s favorite teaching. I can’t say we had ever really believed it, because we hadn’t ever fully looked into it. I can say that hearing the “Bible Answer Man” on the radio (or any other theologian) trying to explain the Trinity to some poor caller definitely bothered me. No matter the topic (spiritual or otherwise), I’ve never been comfortable with someone trying to pass as common sense something that made no sense at all. Now, I think I know enough to know that there are things I don’t know and so try to give people the benefit of the doubt. If I’m not knowledgeable about something and you seem to be, I might ask questions but I don’t take a decided stance. “That doesn’t sound logical to me, but I guess you know what you’re talking about….” and then, if I’m really curious (or challenged), I’ll look into it myself.

When a loved one told me, early last year, that she no longer believed in the deity of Messiah, I was both curious and challenged. Better yet, so was Bobby. I have to give him credit for doing the digging on this one. He has spent many waking hours (many of those when he should have been sleeping!) studying, sorting out the different claims to truth, always comparing with scripture. He has faced many challenges (you can’t open your mouth on this subject and not be challenged) that have spurned him to dig deeper.

The greatest thing about seeking truth is that Yahweh wants us to find it! He wants us to know and understand him (Jer 9:24). Truth is simple and should make a confusing mess of puzzle pieces come together into a clear portion of Yahweh’s great masterpiece – his plan for mankind. Truth should never be hard to grasp, tricky to piece together. Truth clicks. Truth makes you go, “Ooohhh! I get it! How incredible!” However, truth sometimes means throwing out pieces that don’t fit, pieces that might belong to a totally different puzzle, and that is too painful for some.

More details coming soon…