Solid Rock

Edward Mote was a merry old soul. His merriment and gaiety (not to be confused with today's distortion of the term) was not based upon his happenstance, however... his deep joy was borne of the gift of God - faith in Jesus... Yeshua, the Creator/Savior from Israel.

Born: January 21, 1797, London, England.
Died: November 13, 1874, Horsham, Sussex, England.
Buried: Horsham, Sussex, England.



Mote spent his early career in the cabinetry business. One strong influence in his life was John Hyatt, who preached at Tottenham Court Road Chapel, one of the chapels run by Lady Huntingdon. Mote eventually became a Baptist pastor and served 26 years at Horsham, Sussex. He was so well loved that his congregation offered him title to the church building, but he said:

"I do not want the chapel, I only want the pulpit; and when I cease to preach Christ, then turn me out of that."

He also penned the words to the famous song, "Christ the Solid Rock." The song is fun to sing... but more than that, it's words will rock you WAY more than "Queen" EVER could! The systems of this world are passing away and the Creator's eternal government of peace is being ceded to the meek of heart.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

bigger

This is the reason I'm singing
It's because He has called me out of darkness
He wants me to understand His grandeur
and I can feel His longing whispers in my heart

He is the King of the universe
and yet of all the wonder He offers me
He bends down low from His highest high
to kiss my cheek and invite me

Into the uttermost of the highest high
His is the throne above - only fine
and You can't chase away His love
King Yeshua is the One whale of the sign of the times!

There isn't any other hope I have
better than the coming of this King
and He won't walk in like the Lamb this time
except that He is the roaring, defining - superstar trying, Lord of the crying, wonderful and gracious I am!

And the poorest people on the face of this earth
are often the happiest of all
because they have felt His gentlest kisses
from the highest, humblest man - who would transcend all time and fight every plan - defeat the dragons and bleed every drop - and fold time, stop the crimes, cancel the fuses, and blow all who accuse - just to be with them ....

now........

In the uttermost of the highest high
Where His throne is above - only fine
and You can't chase away His love
King Yeshua is the One - He's the only living Son - and He's

bigger than love
bigger than the beatles
bigger than the universe He made

but He bends right down
He's the gentlest man
He's the reason women finally broke the chains

and He's bigger than government
bigger than the bankers
bigger than the terror-selling gang

but He swoops right down
and cracks the mount of Olives
He's the reason we will finally all be saved!

Into the uttermost of the highest high
His is the throne above - only fine
and You can't chase away His love
King Yeshua is the One whale of the sign of the times!

Power

My buddy, Tommy Celli, has this to say about power -

"Anything good in me is God. Period.

"And any power I have only comes when I listen to God.

"When I don't listen to God - there's no power - it's just the wishful thinking of a deceived, broken man.

"Peter is so right about business plans - we should say, 'Lord willing, I will live and also do this or that big plan.'"

Love, Revelation and More Love

It's the divine cycle of the Bridegroom to His royal Bride...

He loves her... she responds to His love.
He reveals His glorious secrets to her... she learns new facets of His grandeur.
He loves her some more... she responds with continued ardent affection.

I address myself to the most divine Being, Yeshua, in whom all perfection and beauty are made whole and expressed, and I offer Him my deepest dreams.

My trust in Him is paramount... knowledge builds structure, but love in trust... fills the house with beauty... His kindness and affection being the most beautiful in the universe.

My trust in and love for Him is the foundation of all wholeness in my life... because He is the Creator of all life - both the seen (natural) and the unseen (spiritual) - He alone can fill any void in me.

Wholeness supreme!

I'm just letting you in on this event tonight... it's supremely personal and offered in simplicity. I hope to reflect in the words the deep longing in my heart for His delight.

And, yet... the way He is... ? He delights in me first! And any longing of my own is, most absolutely, a result of that focused passion rather than self-initiated.

Needed Criticism

Everybody hates a critic... especially when it's some nagging, self-important person who thinks she or he has every right to alter your life (on a whim) to fit their foreign opinions and mandates!

You probably know this already, but it's really important for that you take charge over your earholes and judge righteously - especially over what's entering your own heart - or has some immediate bearing on your family or friends. Somebody might be ... well, somebody like the aforementioned nagging, self-important critic (!) might be telling you some pretty crazy stuff!

And it's up to YOU to be ... the critic! Criticize that criticism! Ponder those words as they pummel you with their unwanted, mostly-harmful concepts! And go right ahead and size up the sizer-upper while you're at it! Take a big step back from the verbal assault, take a big breath of fresh air into your beautiful pink lungs, and calmly fold your arms and picture the thought-bubbles over your head pushing away the talk-bubbles of the noise-maker...

"Hm..." (Things that make ya go, Hm, huh?)

"Could it be that this person has no clue what I'm about?"

"Could it be that this person doesn't really CARE what I'm about?"

"I love this person for her/his intrinsic value and all... but... Do I REALLY need to stand here and listen to this mindless drivel?"

"I sure am hungry for some fresh cucumber sauce on a toasted Gyro sandwich!"

Then go to it. Look at your watch and exclaim excitedly (with a huge smile on your face - but don't laugh... that might hurt their feelings!),

"Would ya LOOK at the time! Hey! I've got this REALLY important date (with a sandwich)! I gotta go now! Bye."

Do NOT allow the words to be disconnected - do not wait for an answer - and do not stop after you turn on your heel to hit the road!

After all...

Critics will be critics! Ha ha!

P.S. Sure, it's important to be humble... (seriously), but work out your salvation (with fear and trembling) in front of your INFINITELY LOVING, MERCIFUL, GRACIOUS, KIND, INSIGHTFUL, LISTENING and CARING HEAVENLY FATHER... not that cynical, narrow-minded, can't-stop-talking-to save-their-life, critic!

Grace for humility comes much easier with the first bite of that sandwich you're headed for!

("It's the kindness of God that leads a man to repentence." Romans 2:4)

Work and the Dream

If you're anything like me you struggle with celebrating the conundrum: I love to live my dream but my energy is being spent paying the bills by working for someone else... how do I conserve energy and still do excellence for my associate so that I might bring home enough energy for my own pursuit?

This is the dilemma and challenge for the person whose dreams are not (yet!) in the stage of being either self-supplying or provided for by some benevolent soul.

Be patient, Toma... breathe!

Trust every moment... don't be anxious about the creative "spark"... it's not a spark... it's an ever-flowing fountain.

Believe that the Giver doesn't hold back any good thing from them that walk uprightly... leaning upon His uprightness for the task.

That's all... just a note to self... latch on to it, if you will.

Peace. Dream.

Free from Terrorism

I believe... if the free world would stop glorifying Muslim Jihadists "rights," "freedom of expression," "righteous rebel causes," and oil-power... and start screaming about how WRONG it is that they indoctrinate their children with the idea that "shahada" (death for Allah) is to be desired over life... Terrorism would shrivel up and blow away in the light.

pmw.org.il

God's Breasts

OK, now that I have your undivided attention... I'm gonna let Nancy Campbell of Above Rubies, tell it all.

(The following excerpt is from The Power of Motherhood, by Nancy Campbell, and can be found on her website.)

Mothers are God's Idea

Motherhood originated in God's heart. It is His idea, not man's. Let's look at the creation of man and woman.

Genesis 1:27, 28 says, "God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them..." God created man in the image of God and God's intention for man is to reveal the father heart of God. Above everything else that God is, He is ultimately a father. Because the character of God is to father, He put something of His father heart into man when He created him.

Women also were created in the image of God and He has chosen to put something of His maternal heart within them. Yes, within the Father heart of God, there is a mother heart. We see this described and encompassed in the word, 'Almighty', one of the many names of God.

EL SHADDAI - THE GOD OF THE TOTAL PROVISION

Whenever we see the name, Almighty, it is the Hebrew word, El Shaddai. A breakdown of this word is as follows:

EL - the powerful, mighty, eternal God.
SHADDAI - comes from the root word, 'shad,' which is the Hebrew word for breast. It literally means 'the breasted one.'

This is a picture of God Himself as a nursing mother - One who longs to comfort us, protect us, nurture us and gather us in His arms. He is the God who is all-nourishing and all-sufficient. El Shaddai is the God Who is Enough. He is able to totally satisfy all our needs. He is the God of total provision.

El Shaddai is the One who pours forth and sheds forth all spiritual and temporal blessings. The word 'shed' which we use today in the phrase 'shed forth light', comes from the Hebrew word, 'shad.' As God sheds forth His love, so we are to shed forth love and care to others.

In El Shaddai, we see the self-sacrificing love of God, giving and pouring Himself out for others. As God sacrificed and gave His very best, His only Son, so we show forth His mother heart when we serve and give sacrificially.

As our El Shaddai, we experience Him gathering us safely under His wings as a Hen gathers her chickens. Part of our motherhood anointing is to protect our children and gather other needy people under our wings.

Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you weren't willing!" [me - This Jesus said, weeping from a hill that overlooks modern day Jerusalem.]

We further see this picture in the following scriptures:

Ruth 2:12 "The Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you are come to trust."
Psalm 36:7 "The children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings."
Psalm 91:1-4 "He (or she) who dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (El Shaddai)... He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings shall you trust..."

See also Psalm 17:8, 57:1, 61:4 and 63:7

- - - -

"But what about single women?" you ask. "Or what about those who are unable to have children? How can they be mothers?" We are certainly catapulted into motherhood when we bear children, but the vision of motherhood is even greater than caring for the children to whom we give birth.

The world is waiting to feel the caring heart of God. Every woman can blossom as a mother, whether she gives birth to her own children, or not. All she needs to do is to allow the nurturing instinct that God has put within her by divine creation to flow from her life.

If you do not have children of your own, wait on God to show you who He wants you to mother. Maybe it is children who have no home. Maybe it is older people, lonely people, teens who have no hope in this life, latch-key children next door, single mothers, or whoever God lays upon your heart. As you reach out in loving nurture, forgetting yourself and your own needs, you will find true fulfillment - and you will fulfill your destiny as a woman. There is also a great need for older women to nurture and encourage the younger mothers.

[me - there's plenty more in this awesome book!]
__________

(Also, from the site - a frame... not sure how to find it otherwise! Go to the root of the site to get to the navigation bar!)

The most common word for women in the New Testament is 'gune' which means 'woman, wife'. However, one time a different Greek word is used, translated from the word 'woman', and it is very significant. 

It is the word, 'thelus'.

It comes from the Greek root word, 'thele' which means 'the nipple of a woman's breast, to suckle, to nurse'. 

It is the true picture of a woman, created with a womb to nurture life and breasts to nourish that life.  Now where does God use this word?

This word is used in Romans 1:26,27, For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women (thelus) did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another....” In this scripture, God spells out the consequences of women who turn away from the way that He has created us, including the biological function of breastfeeding. Now please don't get me wrong. I know that some women have not been successful with breastfeeding because of lack of knowledge or even physical disabilities (through ignorance I wasn't totally successful in my first attempt either.). But it is when we blatantly refuse to nurse that we go against nature and God's plan for us as women. It goes on to say that when men saw women turn away from their God given function, they turned to unnatural lusts. The rejection in our hearts of our womanly functions of pregnancy, childbirth and nursing is a root of homosexuality.

Even the animal kingdom do not turn away from their natural function to nurse and nourish their young. Lamentations 4:3 NIV says, "Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people, have become heartless like ostriches in the desert."

- - - -

In Isaiah 66:10-13 God is talking about Jerusalem and likening her to a nursing mother. So when we read what He says, we get God's understanding of a nursing mother. As you read this passage you will see no mention of food. What do you see?

"That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations: that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.  For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem."

Did you notice the words -  "satisfy, console, delight, comfort?" We see here that nursing is not an alternative way to feed a baby, e.g. bottle feeding versus breastfeeding. No, it is total mothering to meet every need of the child. So the breast is used, not just to satisfy hunger, but also to satisfy, delight, console and comfort.

- - - -

THAT WHICH IS ENOUGH

We have already talked about the understanding of God, El Shaddai. Let's look a little closer at this word, shaddai.
 
'Sha' means 'that which is or he who is'

'Dai' means 'enough'

Therefore the meaning for breast is 'that which is enough'!

Isn't that wonderful? The breast is total provision for the little babe as he/she nurses. When nursing a baby, we don't have to give supplement bottles, we don't have to give solids, we don't have to give pacifiers - the breast is enough to satisfy the physical and emotional hunger of our baby. God's understanding of the breast is that it is enough!

Wonder Way

Inspired (immensely) by Tree63's new release...

That's not the way that it came to me
it was more like a bird flying freely
not sugar and ice - not metal or it's knives
it was something far more extraordinary

Larger than the battle for nations...
It was heaven in a child's eyes
Something mysterious - something complete
It was everything You intended for me

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It's that glorious glimpse of Your love
Your'e love is simply wonderful - completely unheard of
Couldn't stand to see us crawl - needed us to hear Your sweet call
And You embraced the suffering for us - it's the wonder way!

I've traded the symphony's of ancient cathedrals
I've tossed out the glamorous page
I've skipped all the lessons by the white album Beatles
for the call from You to rest from our ways

You are glory and grandeur of refreshing
You are the way of wonder burst in on me!
I was blind then I saw You and there was nothing between us!
You have found me and now I am free!

ch.

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And nothing ever takes Your love away.
No paragon or clever deception...
Because Your intimate Voice is the reality I cling to
And Your light breaks in! And I begin again again and again!

It's elementary, my dear Watson.

What makes a 40 year old man of God tick? I've been walking with God now (not by my strength, but by His) for almost 23 years. I've learned that Grace is much more sufficient for every good work than we can imagine.

Grace is absolutely elementary to the human who is being! Read a little of The Road Less Traveled! M. Scott Peck give us a glimpse the power and mechanics of Grace in a life that submits to God's way of Grace. Grace's way of grace. And it's a Beautiful Place!

Speaking of M. Scott Peck... the author. I believe he is a forerunner and a hero of modern counseling techniques. I sincerely think and hope he's not a heretic, as some say.

But Grace is truth... and it's absolute truth. There is an absolute in this world... and, within that absolute, the world makes sense, opens up and becomes transformed into light, hope and the creative design of a Beautiful Lover.

Here's some absolute Truth from the Bible about Grace...

Titus 2:11-15 - (11) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (12) teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, (13) looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (14) who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (15) Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Galatians 5: 1-8, 10-18 - (1) Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (2) Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. (3) And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. (4) You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (5) For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. (6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (7) You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? (8) This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you... (10) I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. (11) And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. (12) I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! (13) For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (15) But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! (16) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Hebrews 13:8-15 - (8) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (9) Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. (10) We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. (11) For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. (12) Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. (13) Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. (14) For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. (15) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

2 Peter 3:10-17 - (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (11) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (12) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (14) Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; (15) and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,16as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (17) You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; (18) but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:1-11 - (1) The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: (2) Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; (3) nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; (4) and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. (5) Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

        "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

(6) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, (7) casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (9) Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (10) But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (11) To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Getting Grace if you don't have it is NOT really up to you...

but if you have a spark of belief in a higher Grace... reach out... The God of Grace in Messiah Yeshua will meet you there.

What little I can do.

What little I can do - I offer it to you.
You're my Friend - or you are my Child - or the amazing Wife I'm bound to

If I've lightened your heart today - if I've only given my all to pray...
If I've laughed with you or borne a burden - or helped you along the highway

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It's what little I can do - for a friend of God like you.
I can see in your face - the Maker's splendor and grace.
And if I've lightened your load today - It's what little I can do.

I've been crying a lot lately - there's been pain in my offering.
But if your heart has been lifted - then mine is the honoring.

What little I can do - I offer it to you.
You're my Friend - or you are my Child - or the amazing Wife I'm bound to

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The world is spinning faster and faster. The system's gone over the edge. But away from the enticement - there's a place far and away sweeter...
And it's just resting here for a moment - with you.

It's what little I can do...

Bite of the Apple... 2004

RANDOM Inspirations while watching Apple Macworld Keynote on 010604....

Hey, everyone... this is a running commentary on a live stream from the San Francisco, 2004 Macworld Keynote by good ol' (old?) Steve Jobs of Apple, Inc.

Kinda diffrent, I know... but isn't that what blogs are for?

Remember how the Apple Mac came out in 1984? There was a once seen (at the 1984 Super Bowl), yet highly lauded commercial announcing it... I got to see it for the first time today - it made me whoop out loud!

Synopsis: In a grey world of slaves and masters, one free woman, dressed in color and wielding a sledge hammer, runs upstream the shuffling masses into a huge television viewing room. Mindless numbers of new world order faithful are watching, mouths agape, the man-in-charge as he preaches the endless benefits of subservience. Although a row of armed meanies are in hot pursuit, our heroine has ample time to "hammer-throw" the sledge across the room and into the slobbering madman's image... exploding the screen with satisfying justice. The tag line follows: "In 1984, Apple introduces the Macintosh... and you'll see why 1984 won't be like "1984."

Maybe... with your PC you could change the world with your unique take... but you could more likely do it if you sell that ol' stinky thing and buy a Mac!

Audiobooks - you can download and listen on the go to ANY well-penned hyperbole! And classics are still being written today - make your own by becoming a writer yourself! Then read to yourself... and record it on your Mac! And it's not just at Apple.com that you can download (and read)... Project Gutenberg is kickin tha fat collection, too.

3 terrabytes of storage for 10 grand ... all raid connected... I could serve quality, original, digital video content to the world via my (extremely fat) home network! (Remember Max Headroom?) Upgrade Final Cut Express to 2.0 for only 100 bucks! Have most of the editing power of Final Cut Pro for a 1/3rd of the cost!

As John Meyer... gutiarist of genuine musical integrity and excellence... is playing live into new recording software, "Garage Band," with loops by players of the famous Motown rhythm section, the infamous Funk Brothers... perhaps the one MOST EXPLOITED GROUP OF MUSICIANS IN HISTORY... Steve, who was visibly emotional as he tenderly thanked the great audience of Macworld SF 2004 for the amazing response to the online iTunes store (projected 500 million songs sold in one year)... has done his part to insure musicians of the future aren't so highly exploited. Thank YOU, Steve!

Elijah Wood (of LOTR fame)(and who, I shamelessly admit, is half of my new son Elijah's namesake... the biblical character being the other half!) gave a little video msg to Apple... "Thanks, everyone at Apple... because you CARE. And you're constantly working to make things better for me and for everyone else. So thank you."

And I thank God for Apple. I believe the superfantastic, ever-loving Maker now WANTS us to know more and do more for the Kingdom of Light with tools like these. Perhaps the little company that the 2 Steves built was, after all, not so far away from the intended time and means for partaking in that "tree of the knowledge." (See Genesis 2:17)

Good Ol' Fashioned Gospel

First off, a translation... many bibles use the term "gospel," but more recent translations reject that archaic usage in favor of the term, "good news." My two personal favorites, "God's Word" and (actually, a fairly old translation,) "Young's Literal" both use the term, "good news" when referring to what Jesus and His followers spoke so often about.

Jesus (or "Yeshua," as His own mother would have called Him) said, "This Good News (gospel) about the kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)

What was the good news?

Matthew also presents it well - "Jesus went all over Galilee. He taught in the synagogues and spread the Good News of the kingdom. He also cured every disease and sickness among the people. (24) The news about Jesus spread throughout Syria. People brought Him everyone who was sick, those who suffered from any kind of disease or pain. They also brought epileptics, those who were paralyzed, and people possessed by demons, and He cured them all."

So, it looks like, wherever Jesus went teaching about the "Good News of the kingdom..." people became whole and well!

You realize, the Hebrew-speaking people of Jesus' time were quite ready for His coming... at least by what was being taught in the synagogues and what was happening to Israel at the hand of the Romans. The scriptures and the teachers of the scripture at that time pointed to a coming "Messiah Prince" who would be of the royal lineage of King David and who would possess godly qualities and lead Israel into an eternity on earth of peace, joy and creative expression.

See?

Isaiah said, in 9:14, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." and, in 7:6 -

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (vs. 7) Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

And in Chapter 61 of Isaiah's astonishing book, a mere chapter in the world's all-time, best-seller (4 billion in print!), he pens details of the reign of this Messiah, the Prince -

(1) "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; (2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, (3) To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

(4) And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. (5) Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. (6) But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast. (7) Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double. Everlasting joy shall be theirs.

(8) "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant. (9) Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed."

(10) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (11) For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

In fact Yeshua read a portion of that chapter back in the day and it caused quite the stir! (see Luke 4:16-30)

So the "Good News of the Kingdom" is all about ZION! (Man! How come that place just keeps on showin up?!)

And that's the good ol' fashioned Gospel... Yeshua will plant His feet (physically, geographically and really) on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Israel ...

Zechariah 14:4 - "And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south."

... and we will all go to see Him there ...

Zechariah 14:16 - "And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles."

And if you still have some weird, prejudiced sour taste in your mouth about Zion and it's mention? Part of me thinks,

"Patience... keep seeking, you'll find Him there... in Zion."

Another part of me just wants to say,

"It's a Zion thang... you wouldn't understand."

Great Interrupter

The greatest Interrupter of the human experience is the same Hand that intimately and delicately wove you into being...

Psalm 139:
13 - For You formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 - I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
15 - My frame wasn’t hidden from You, When I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 - Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written - the days that were ordained for me - when as yet there were none of them.
17 - How precious to me are Your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 - If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with You.

As Michelle and I were praying for our friend's whose baby had a strange, unclassifiable fever and immune activity, the thought occurred to us that when God heals, He's interrupting a certain flow... the flow of this world without it's Maker is entropy. It's decay and death. But God changes that 2nd law of thermodynamics! He lifts broken people, restores them from the inside out and sets them on high with princes and princesses (and what a delightful contrast it is when that happens!)!

1Sam. 2:8 He raises up the poor out of the dust, He lifts up the needy from the dunghill, to make them sit with princes, inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh’s, He has set the world on them.

Psa. 107:41 Yet He lifts the needy out of their affliction, and increases their families like a flock.

Psa. 91:14 "Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known My Name."

Psa. 40:1 I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.
4 Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts which are toward us.

Some good thoughts to start the day with... the month... even the year! Have a good year, my friend!

And speaking of weaving wonderful human substance!!! Cigars are in order!!! Today (most probably) my brother Don and his wife, Lori, have delivered their first baby boy! Good job, you two! Great job, God!!!

Side note about a wonderful website: Jeff Bridges does lifting work for God, I think... even if he doesn't know His Name... yet!

Sad.

Sad. Why this hatred against a free-elected, free-speaking, free-believing state? This is the hatred of Luther, Hitler, Stalin and Bin Laden... it is focused upon... Zion.

Iranian Leaders to Victims: Better That You Die Than We Accept Israeli Help

Iran took time out from dealing with its tens of thousands of earthquake casualties to spew forth more hatred towards Israel - even at the expense of its own dead, wounded, orphans and homeless. "The Islamic Republic of Iran," announced the country's official news agency IRNA, "welcomes all the humanitarian aid being offered by various countries and organizations - except for that from the Zionist entity."

Despite the above, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom issued a statement of condolences, saying, "The Government of Israel and the people of Israel feel the pain of the human tragedy being experienced by the Iranian people. Amidst all our differences, what is required at these moments is total mobilization by the international community to help the families of the dead and injured."

It should also be noted that during the height of recent Greek-Turkish hostilities, the two countries sent aid to each other when they both suffered earthquakes a month apart in 1999.

Private and public Israeli groups are attempting, despite the Iranian government's hostility, to help ease the enemy country's human suffering, via third parties or other unofficial channels. "This is not a political question," said Dr. Mike Naftali, Chairman of the Topaz Humanitarian Fund of the Israeli Kibbutz Movement. "Tens of thousands of children are suffering terribly, and it is incumbent upon us, as human beings, to help them."

Zion and Bam

The world is suffering in deep pain again... the apple of God's eye, Jerusalem, and her cities are being accosted and threatened with 50 (count 'em) terror threats.

One terrorized (by PLO & gangs) terrorist freak blew himself up and killed 4 beautiful souls in Tel Aviv...

And the horrible tempest in nearby Iran? Not many hours after threats of the genocide of Israel by leaders in Iran (Gen. Seyed Reza Pardis, Minister of Defense Ali Shamkhani and President Mohammed Khatami)... thousands of people are suffering in Bam, Iran.

In response to Israel's Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Israel Radio's Persian-language broadcast last week implying a possible pre-emptive attack Iranian nuclear plants, unwise leaders said horrible things, you see.

"We will strike Israel with all weapons at our disposal, if the Zionist regime ventures to do so..."

"Israel will be swept away."

It is pure speculation on my part and may be a small coincidence. And I shudder to make such a gruesome connection. But doesn't He seem to say as much in many passages of scripture?

Micah 4:11 "And now many nations are assembled against you that say, 'Let her be defiled, and let our eye see our desire upon Zion.' 12 But they know not the thoughts of Jehovah, neither understand they His counsel; for He has gathered them as the sheaves to the threshing-floor."

People don't realize how deep this "Zion" thing goes. This is a dream of the God of the Bible that He will fulfill.

The meaning of Zion is this - a place for perfect love on earth.

And God will clear the landing pad of all things that hinder love.

It's a serious thing to threaten Zion with genocide.

RTFM (or) Christmas/Chanukah - Reason for the Season?!

Ok... it's Christmas day and I'm playin' my favorite (FREE!) online video game and chatting with my online racing companions: keshutsu, wallywallwacker, louie, kawasaki, war monkey, etc. And kawasaki is admitting that he's (maayyybeee...) not as good as wally and wally sez (ever so humbly) "RTFM." My acronym-challenged brain took fewer seconds to respond than the first person to answer my question - "RTFM?" - but was unable to type a clever followup when (almost) everyone on the grid responded, "read the f...n (freakin) manual." In other words, wally wacks walls coz wally studied the manual and learned all the ins and outs of the game (and he practiced a whole lot!).

So... on a day when there's a WHOLE buncha confusion about "Santa" and shopping... and not enough questions asked about the babe in the manger... and not enough worship offered in response to His valiantly gentle, supremely vulnerable initial physical appearance to us on terra firma... I just wanted to offer some of what the Big Manual has to say about Him.

He is Yeshua (to his mother) and He is both Creator and Savior of our humble spinning rock.

It so happened that "armagoshdarn," the most famous Tron grid of all time, has (today only) featured a cycle named "Jesus" who is "unmanned" - signified by a yellow "chat" jewel that hovers above the helmet of the cycler. This has caused many interesting comments, most of which (interestingly enough) were respectful and thoughtful.

After the valiantly-named "bot" (auto-pilot, chat-mode rider) "chose" wrongly and turned into a wall, thus shattering, another player asked, "Why did Jesus sacrifice himself?" I had to respond...

"because He made the universe..."

"and it got broke..."

"and that was the only way He could fix it..."

And that's why the Baby came to a "manger" in Beitlechem ("House of Bread")... in a feeding trough for animals. To address both man and beast with the answer to our fallen state... "bread or manna from heaven - the bread of life..." the One who can fulfill the need within.

Micah 5:2-5 - "You, Bethelehm Ephrathah, are too small to be included among Judah's cities. Yet, from you Israel's future Ruler will come for Me. His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago. That is why the Lord will abandon Israel until the time a mother has a Child. Then the rest of the Lord's people will return to the people of Israel. The Child will become the Shepherd of his flock. He will lead them with the strength of the Lord, with the majestic Name of the Lord His God (Yeshua means "God - our salvation!"). They will live in safety because His greatness will reach the ends of the earth. This Man will be their peace."

[Note: These prophecies cover two distinctly different eras - His 1st coming (as a babe, and a savior) and His promised 2nd coming (as warring conqueror). Scripture here uses a "prophetic pause" the same as Luke's account (4:17-22) of Yeshua's reading of Isaiah 61:1-2a. He actually stops mid-sentence... a sentence that spans 2 millenia of human history!]

Another verse from Isaiah provides more directions for this Christmas/Chanukah season -

Isaiah 9:2-7 - "The people who walk in darkness will see a bright light. The light will shine on those who live in the land of death's shadow. You will expand the nation and increase its happiness. It will be happy in Your presence like those who celebrate the harvest or rejoice when dividing loot. you will break the yoke that burdens them, the bar that is across their shoulders, and the stick used by their oppresor, as You did in the battle against Midian. Every warriors boot marching to the sound of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel in the fire. A child will be born for us. A Son will be given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. He will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. His government and peace will have unlimited growth. He will establish David's throne and kingdom. He will uphold it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts does this!"

And in the Gospel of John we see Yeshua consumating the meaning of Chanukah - the festival of lights - the festival of the Temple Rededication in John 10:22-31.

The following (from VineyardoftheLord.org) clarifies further "instruction" from the Manual -

"Even though this is a very great historical moment in history, should we celebrate it? Yeshua is our example so let’s see what he did.  In John 10:22 “Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter and Yeshua was in the Temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.”

"The very fact that Yeshua was attending a post-Mosaic festival shows that He used it to set forth some hidden truth. At this time Yeshua taught the parable of the sheep. Inverses 19-21 show that at that time the people were divided over what he had said. Some said that he was a devil.  At this time the Jews challenged him to clearly and plainly tell them if he was the Messiah. Yeshua reminded them if they were his sheep, they would hear the voice of the Shepherd. This very fact that they did not hear the voice proved that they were not of his fold. The words of Yeshua spoke loud enough for all of Israel to hear, if they had ears that would and could hear the word of the L-rd. The people then took up stones to stone him; however he escaped out of their hands.

"At the Temple the people were commemorating the history of Chanukkah. They were honoring Judah Maccabee calling him the Temple Cleanser and the Illuminator. How much more was Yeshua this? Yeshua had cleansed the Temple, but they had rejected his cleansing. Yet, they kept the Feast of Dedication, but sought to stone the one to whom the Temple had been dedicated. They had missed him at another feast. The Word says the Feasts had become the Feast’s of the Jews, rather than the Feast’s of the L-rd. They had kept the letter, but missed the spirit. They had fulfilled the ritual and missed the reality.

"As we read on in Luke the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, to tell her of the conception and birth of Yeshua to come. So if Elizabeth got pregnant in June that would place this time in December; six months later. In verses 32-35 we see another prayer that Jews pray even today at Chanukkah. “May the Holy Spirit come upon you and the power of the Most High over shadow you.” So what may we conclude from this? Yeshua was conceived at Chanukkah. We believers should know as far as G-d is concerned life begins at the moment of conception. So, at the darkest time of the year, the light of the world came. This would bring the birth of Messiah at the end of Sept. or October. This would place his birth at Sukkot."

Self-righteousness, the mind killer.

If we were honest with ourselves, we'd never dare to hold our righteousness... or "goodness"... in comparison to the Maker-Servant-Redeemer-King of the Universe. But, alas, we do, don't we? A lot.

Since fear and self-righteousness (I think) are related (and because I love the books/movies so much) here's a quote from Frank Herbert's "Dune" on this matter:

"Fear is the mind killer. I will not fear. I will face my fear and let it pass through me." The same can be said of self-righteousness... a daughter of fear and it's attendant insecurities.

In some phases I operate more by love than by fear, but, for the most part, I find myself comparing others to my own imagined and lofty ideal of "perfect" life & living... and seeing if they stand a chance against "almighty me."

And yet, when I do that, love suffers. And since abundant life and creative thought and out-reaching love all go hand in hand, my eternally-growing mind also suffers.

Why can't I just admire the differences in the people around me... not to the exclusion of a sublime sharing in worship of the Creator... but pointedly delighting in the uniqe vision and personality before me... now? (thereby apprehending a more vital microcosm - previous blog.)

Ol' Solomon said, "Have you met a person who thinks he is wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him." (from Proverbs)

And Paul added, "If any man thinks he knows anything, he hasn't understood yet. But if any man loves God, then God knows him!" (1st Corinthians 8:2) The emphasis of knowledge (and, specifically, OWNERSHIP of that knowledge) is upon God's knowing... we are only rightly concerned with our quality of LOVE! We don't hold onto something that we created within ourself or somehow achieved by ourself, but heave our being into the simple, passionate and sentient loving... of the Giver of all good and perfect gifts... and of the people He also loves.

"for a man receives NOTHING unless it is first given to him from above." (James 1:17)

The Microcosm... shall flow...

The Microcosm shall flow with RIVERS of "living water"...

Yeshua introduced, on a day when water was traditionally poured out as an offering of praise to God (the Feast of Sukkot, or Tabernacles), the concept that, if a person would drink from Him - His life - His joy and peace... that person could be filled to overflowing!

Check out this passage from the Bible in the Gospel of John, chapter 7, verses 37 thru 39:

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink. 38 He that believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.'" 39 (But this he said of the Spirit, which them that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Point being this: We are much more capable of expressing a life filled with the cool refreshment of an eternal perspective... if we -

First: See Yeshua as our only Source (every other source is ultimately fallible - wihout His intervention and undergirding)

Second, see Yeshua as filling our lives and affecions from the inside... not just as a source "outside" of us!

The "Microcosm" I refer to is that single closest sphere of our affections - the loved ones closest to us.

That's our Microcosm - our sphere of influnce!!! If we focus that energy on ANYTHING ELSE... we're probably not going to be feeling a "river of living water" pouring out on others from the inside of us.

For us to experience the eternal, fresh, flowing life of God in our lives (in abundance)... it must come from the sphere within... flowing out of the center of our being!

The greek word for "belly" in John 7 is "koilia" (koy-lee´-ah). It stems from koilos (hollow)and means a cavity, specifically the abdomen; figuratively, the heart, belly, or womb.

What's flowin' from my center right now?

Never Give Up

Never Give Up
The following is forwarded from Naomi Ragen.

If you've forgotten, the USA is also at war with this same Wahabist terrorism. Sad but true.

See how a 13 year old girl processes that reality when it hits home monthly, weekly, even daily...

NEVER GIVE UP

By Cegal Ilan

I want to talk about Israel
and living in this crazy place
What we do, how we act,
And the reality we face

First of all, I need to say
We're not a desert with houses of sand
We live here like you do there
Just in another land

We have houses, big and small
We have normal schools
We work in hi-tech companies
And pray to God in shuls

We go out at night to have some fun
We don't just sit in bed
We carry on with our lives
Though we've seen so many dead

We're now more careful
Look around where we hang out
We try to let our lives move on
Though our heart is full of doubt

Israel is strong
It is glued together
Israel is strong
And will stay so forever

60 years ago the world was blind
They didn't see what was hidden behind
Now there's hope, now there's glue
From every car and home flies the white and blue

We mourn each life that's lost
We cry for peace out loud
We're paying a giant cost
To stay free, strong and proud

Copyright CEGAL ILAN
(reproduced with permission of the author)

Born in 1988 in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Moved to Israel with her family when she was six.

She always felt connected to being Jewish. When she was 13 she wrote Never Give Up in response to many family and friends asking her what it was like living in Israel.

She is now in her first year of High School in Ra'anana, Israel and plays on the high school volleyball team.

She hopes her words inspire you to see life goes on as normal, although we are living through difficult times.

She would like to hear from you.

cegalilan@yahoo.com

Wise People Still Seek Him! (vlog02)

Vlog #2 by AtomSound Media!



Check it out. Boinx iStopMotion hooked me up!!! This program will allow you to use your camera as a stop-motion film factory! Granted, our first endeavor as the AtomSound family of creative entrepreneurs (including 4 yr old Josiah and 3 yr old Grace!) are only beginning... but, hey! Not bad production values, I'd say!

[This was retroactively added to the Internet Archive and to this blog - but proof of posting can be seen via the "wayback machine" on the Internet Archive HERE. (see "other goodies" url ref.)]

Wise Men Still Seek Him - Atomsound Original (vlog02)

Ta-Da!

We... er, SHE did it! Praise the God of Life and Creation and Happiness and Wonder!!! (The same One who took upon Himself flesh and was born to us, Savior of the World He made!!! Isaiah 9:6-7)