In the Shadow of Sinai by Carole Towers

Come and meet Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, son of Caleb. He possesses a gift given him by El Shaddai, the little known God of the Hebrew slaves living in the land of Egypt. His skilled hands craft beautiful works of art for the household of Ramses II, a supposed god of the Nile. Bezalel was recognized early for his talents, removed from his home to live in the King’s palace and trained by the head artisan to serve the Pharaoh. When he can, he returns home for a couple of days to his Abba and Imma who live in Goshan among other Hebrews. His father had died in the field making bricks for the Pharaoh’s building projects. But Bezalel has learned much from his grandfather, the Abba, who lives with his mother.

Still, as a young adult living in the palace, how could he believe in such an elusive god, who had been mostly silent for the past 400 years that his people had dwelt among the Egyptians and been enslaved by them? He certainly didn’t understand the faith his Abba possessed for Yahweh, the God Almighty. But things began to change when two brothers, Aaron and Moses, appeared before Ramses. Since part of his day was working on his craft in the huge throne room, Bezalel had a front row seat to the dramatic events that changed his life.

Through her well-researched fictional tale of a young artist, the author has woven in the context of the Biblical event of the Exodus. This gives her readers a closer look at it from a different point of view. She has given faces to her readers to gain a more personal perspective of the descendants of Israel. She has given heart to her story to assist us in understanding the ignorance, the bewilderment and the gradual spiritual awakening of the Hebrews during the course of the plagues that led to a massive flight out of a country they had come to know as home.

Bezalel wins our admiration when his caring nature leads him to help alleviate the suffering of his palace friends when they are subjected to the bites of gnats and flies, the pain of the boils afflicting their skin, and the destruction of their food supply from the bloody Nile, the frogs, the locusts, and the death of livestock belonging to the Egyptians. He adopts a little boy who had been beaten by a cruel master in the palace and eventually takes him with his family as they flee Egypt, even though the young lad is an Egyptian himself. Bezalel’s own reaction to El Shaddai in the course of the trauma can be seen as a reflection of the spiritual struggle most Hebrews may have been experiencing.

To Bezalel, God Almighty had only been a shadow of reality to this point. In his mind shadows were cold and damp, full of isolation and loneliness. It wasn’t until he met Meri, a very young Egyptian living in the harem of the Pharaoh, that his perception of shadows changed. One day she shares her loving memories of her mother with him. She would feel such contentment in her presence,deriving comfort even from sitting in her mother’s shadow. She felt safe and protected there. Bezalel told Meri his name meant “in the shadow of God Almighty”. Perhaps he had been mistaken in his perspective about living in such a shadow.

God manifested His presence in a pillar of cloud and fire, placing Himself between the Hebrews at the Red Sea and the Egyptians in their war chariots, allowing the mass of people to cross the Sea safely. Bezalel may not have been the only one who experienced a renewal of faith in Yahweh that day. God was keeping His people in the shadow of His protection and many trusted Him to keep them safe and secure. There were even some Egyptians in those numbers passing through the waters who had voluntarily placed their lives in El Shaddai’s protective hands.

But there were also others who loudly complained whenever things didn’t work out as they expected. Their complaints caused hardship for Moses and Aaron and eventually led to reprisal from Mt. Sinai where God’s presence had settled for a time. He made it clear that this covenant (agreement) went both ways. He would be their Protector and Provider, but they must also agree to follow His ways and become His unique people. They didn’t learn this overnight.

I am impressed with the amount of historical detail the author placed into the storyline. She included descriptions of dress and hairstyles, the contrast of customs from the two predominant cultures including language and vocabulary, geographical locations, diet and herbology, worship practices, warfare, and other details that added to this story’s authenticity.

The reader is drawn into Bezalel’s world and family through their trials and triumphs. The relationships he built around him were sincere and realistic. He marries Meri and by the end of the book she gives birth to a daughter whom they name Adi, which means jewel. Even though Bezalel suffered the loss of his grandfather in a conflict, his closest friends notice that he had also lost much of the seething anger that had been part of his life so many years. He had begun to realize that to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty was to live in a warm, safe place.

I highly recommend this book for all ages to enjoy. If there are to be more books to follow in a series by this author, I will be looking forward to reading those as well.

I received a preview copy of this book for review from Cross Focused Reviews.

Related articles

• Write to the Point with Carole Towriss (5020genesis.wordpress.com)

But what does it mean to have faith? Does having faith mean we have a special power to obtain material things, such as jobs, cars, or spouses? Does having faith mean having that extra humph when things get rough? Does having faith mean that we are suppose to make things happen for ourselves?Does having faith mean deciding what we want out of life and then asking God to bless what we are doing? Does having faith mean we can write our own destiny?

The world has a way of taking the things of God and twisting them to fit the world’s perspective. And, if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself chasing the things of this world, thinking that you’re in the Will of God, but you’re actually operating on the world’s value system, desiring the things of the world and doing what the world does to get them.

Matthew 6:33 teaches us to “seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously and He will give you everything you need. We have to first be about our Father’s business. Jesus was taking care of our Father’s business when he said, “Abba Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” Mark 14:36. Through all the pain and anguish, Jesus’ attitude still was, Father, I know you can change this for me, but it’s really not about me, it’s about you.

This is the kind of mindset we should have too. As Believers, we should be more concerned about doing our Father’s business, building the Kingdom, righteous living, feeding the poor and living by faith, instead of chasing material things and calling them blessings. Every good thing comes from the Lord. And, “the blessings of the Lord makes us rich, and he adds no sorrow with it” Proverbs 20:22. Everything that looks like a blessing is not a blessing. (Some of us learned this lesson the hard way.)

So, we’re back to the question of what does it mean to have faith? Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is a gift from God to help us focus on the Promises of God in spite of our challenges in this life. Faith is not something that we do, but something that we possess. God gives us this wonderful gift so that we can trust the future that he has for us. We must trust God’s way and not make it our own way by twisting it to fit the world ‘s perspective.

This tweet is right on point:

iPray iHoop @_Raise_me_up: The Lord has such amazing, incredible plans for you far beyond your capacity to fathom. But you have to be willing to take his path there.

The key words here are his and path. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.”

It can be tempting, at times, to distort God’s Promises to meet our personal desires. Look at Abraham and Sarah.

God personally appeared to Abraham and told him that he would bless him with a son; and that he was going to make Abraham a father of many nations. (“No eye has seen, no ear had heard, and mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9). But after they had waited for awhile, Sarah became impatient waiting for their Promise and she and Abraham took matters into their own hands. They were trying to help God, but El Shaddai is God Almighty all by himself! The gift of faith should help us keep things in perspective, not distort them.

The gift of faith is a gift that we receive from God for the Promises of God that have not manifested, not for material things.

In the next blog, we’ll talk about faith and the Book of Hebrews (sometimes called the Faith Chapter).

We Live by Faith

Copyright 2013 LaTanya A. Davis

(Follow me on Twitter @wewalkbyfaith88)

The number 13 signifies the end of human effort. When you come to the end of yourself, please know that THE MOMENT OF EL-SHADDAI has ARRIVED!! Just step into THE GRACE…

7 Doors Will Be Opened in 2013:

1. The Door of Family WHOLENESS. This year the miracle will start and rest in your home. God will heal broken relationships; children will come home; Barreness will leave and No sickness or plague shall come near your dwelling. I TAKE THAT!!

2. The Door of FRESH REVELATION. There’s going be a fresh unveiling of the loveliness, awesomeness, majesty and beauty of Jesus Christ again. A far more quickened and intimate relationship because the eyes of your understanding will be enlightened. Consequently you will have more BREAKTHROUGHS than ever before.

3. The Door of UTTERANCE AND INFLUENCE. You will not live an insignificant life in 2013. God will use you to move even nations and affect people groups. Your come from the background to the forefront. You won’t serve before obscure men but you will stand before KINGS IN PALACES. God will distinguish your VOICE among the NATIONS! I TAKE THAT!

4. The Door of Entrepreneurship, Enterprise and Business. 2013 is your YEAR to download from heaven some KNOWDLEGE FOR WITTY INVENTIONS. You will come into unprecedented Business opportunities. You will buy without money and like Joseph’s brothers, every time you turn round, there will be MONEY in your bags even if you won’t know WHO PUT IT THERE! I TAKE THAT.

5. The Door of Recompense & Compensation. For everything you have ever been through and every seed you have ever sown, like the children of Israel after 400 years, 2013 is YOUR PAY DAY!! Get ready to see JEHOVAH GOMOLLAH – The God of RECOMPENSE at your House. He will RESTORE to you the YEARS that the LOCUST have eaten. You are getting your time back and your YOUTH will be RENEWED like the EAGLE’S. I TAKE THAT!

6. The Door of SUPERNATURAL FAVOUR. In 2013 God will raise up people to HELP, PREFER AND BELIEVE in your DREAM. Like Ruth, the Moabite, while you may have been gleaning in the corners, this year, God will GIVE your BOAZ and the same place where it seemed like you were at the mercy of other, GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE FIELD. Get ready to come into more than your could ask or think or EARN. KNIGS will notice and appreciate your skill, talents and acumen. Favour beyond your dreams is your portion in 2013!

7. The Door to YOUR PLACE OF BLESSING. Like Abraham, this year you will KNOW IT because you will SEE IT. The right destiny RELATIONSHIPS, where you are not tolerated but celebrated. Your own House, one that you really like. A place of increase where things will work in your HANDS. No more fighting with others over little trickles. You will come to your WELL of NO CONTENTION and even for your dry place, as you command the waters to come up, YOUR WELL WILL SPRING UP AGAIN! God will DEFEND YOUR PLACE OF BLESSING.

So, it is the day after Christmas Day and as the angels in the heavens said to the shepherds two millenia ago, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”  But before we move out of the Christmas season and into the New Year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on a psalm spoken by Mary when she first learned she was pregnant with Jesus.

Now, can you imagine the scene of this?  An angel appears to this 14 year old girl and tells her that God is going to make her pregnant. Come again!?!?  “Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin’” (Luke 1:34)?  Can you picture the horror of the idea of this, in a time when women were considered property; in a time when women were stoned for “getting pregnant” outside of marriage?  Mary must have been truly frightened, yet she answered, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Following this, she praises the Lord with an original Psalm that comes from her heart.  She starts it off with the following statement, “My soul magnifies the Lord” (Luke 1:46). Now if you are reading that statement carefully, it should cause you to pause and ponder. How can the soul of Mary, a mere peasant girl, magnify the soul of El Shaddai, or rather, God Almighty?  How can the soul of a lowly human being ever magnify God…shouldn’t it be the other way around. Shouldn’t it be that God magnifies Mary’s soul?

Yet, in Mary’s statement we see an inherent truth that perhaps sets her apart from most people.  Whereas, when we think of God, we are looking for something big, Mary saw something small. Where we are looking for a grandiose Zeus in the sky sitting on a golden throne, Mary saw a precious, vulnerable, and helpless baby.  To take it one step further, not only did Mary see God in her child, but she saw God in herself.  And it was in her qualities of humility, of meekness, of lowliness, of smallness, and of faithfulness that she saw God magnified.

We are so busy looking for something big, something out of this world, and something magical that we often miss the presence of God entirely. In the movie, Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee says, “Like a finger pointing to the moon…don’t concentrate on the finger or you will miss all of that heavenly glory.” Often times, we focus so hard on concentrating on miracles…looking here and there for them…that we miss the miracle itself.

Mary did not miss the miracle.  She knew the miracle was not just around her, but within her.  That she was born in a time when many babies died…Miracle.  That she was not stoned for being found with child outside of marriage…Miracle. That Joseph accepted a dream as reality and accepted Jesus as his son…Miracle.  That anyone would see God within them…including Mary…Miracle.

Rather than looking for Kings and kingly gifts, rather than looking for dazzling parlor tricks and illusions, let us recognize the true Miracle of Christmas…that God is not only with us, but revealed and magnified within us.  If your soul rejoices in God the way Mary’s did, how differently will you begin to live your life.  Make this your New Year’s resolution: See God within you and let your soul be a magnifying glass…not only in word but in deed. Let your soul say, as Mary’s did, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

I wrote this book after swimming through decades of such life-struggles.  Many of which, few would emerge from.  It was the surety of my faith in a deeply loving God that helped me to rise again and again.  Through all of it, also emerged a more complete and ever-expanding view of our God – and most importantly, all that he is in the way of matchless love, blessing, help, and infinite wonder.  God is the accessible infinite; the knowable mystery.  He is the mystery to be discovered and understood and known, in increments – forever.

I pray I might encourage others to press deeper in their relationship with God; and have reason to believe there is great blessing in doing so.  Blessing enough to face any struggle in life and foster hope that good is meant for you now and always – even in struggle.  I further pray that I might encourage these same souls to seek relational unity with all others, in pressing into our God together.  The Body of Christ is comprised of too many hurting and lonely souls that desperately need God’s help – and the love and encouragement of others to come together as one.  One body loving each other … all others … as the very heart of Jesus Christ.

I am offering this book as a free download for one simple reason.  As I considered any traditional form of publishing, I was perpetually impressed by the fact that the greatest of all written instruction and encouragement was given to us freely.  If God extends his Holy Word to all for free … why would I imagine not doing so with any personal effort that could only hope to be vastly less?  If you find any measure of this text beneficial, please share it with someone you believe may also benefit.  As believers and followers of Christ, it is my prayer and hope that we would each grow in fullness, as our God leads us – and that we would do so, together.  May you be blessed. – T. E. Davis

All material subject to copyright: T.E. Davis – 2012

Love is often described in terms of feelings. But true love — what the New Testament writers called agape love — is not based on feelings at all. Agape love can change your life and set you free. And it all begins with a decision you must make.

Agape love is a decision to consider the needs of others ahead of your own needs … to live sacrificially … to give without demanding a return … to overlook an offense. Most of all, agape love is a decision to receive and respond to God’s love. For all our efforts to love others will not bear fruit unless we are responding to His love. As the Bible says, “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Not only do we need to be “rooted and grounded” in God’s love for us, we also need an ever-increasing comprehension of His love toward us.

As we experience God’s love and respond in love, we will be transformed into His image. We will also be fulfilling His greatest command: to love God and our neighbors (Mark 12:29-31). This love must inevitable overflow into actions (1 John 3:13). Ultimately, the verifiable witness of our love for each other will prove to the world that we are truly disciples of Jesus (see John 13:34).

While agape love is not based on feelings, the feelings of love will often follow true expressions of love. As our lives begin to demonstrate the “fruit of the Spirit: (love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control). our emotional state will undoubtedly change for the better. But we must not seek after the emotions. Instead, seek first His kingdom and “all these things: will be give to us ( Matt. 6:33).

The above excerpt can be found on the CNB website. For the complete article, please visit http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/cbnteachingsheets/keys-Love.aspx

GRAMOPHONE: El-Shaddai – Amy Grant

“Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade” (John 10:22-23 NIV).

The Feast of Dedication is another term for Chanukah. Because Hebrew is a pictorial language, it can have several different phonetic spellings for the same word in English. Hence, sometimes we see the Feast of Dedication referred to as H-A-N-U-K-K-A-H and sometimes C-H-A-N-U-K-A-H.” (I will mainly use the “Ch” spelling.)

When anyone asks why a Christian would celebrate Chanukah, the simplest and most direct answer is that Jesus did. “Jesus gave them this answer: ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; he can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does’” (John 5:19). So when Jesus celebrated Chanukah on earth, significantly, His Heavenly Father participated also. Stop and really think about that. Our precious Heavenly Father not only approved of Chanukah, but joined in the festivities. In fact, the days of Chanukah were designated as festivals of praise and thanksgiving, because the Jewish people recognized the annual return of the same kind of spiritual force that resulted in the original miracle – one day’s oil miraculously lasting for eight until the Temple was cleansed, and new pure and undefiled oil could be made for the Golden Lampstand (i.e., the Temple Menorah). The light of the Menorah in God’s Temple is symbolic of the light of God. The fact that the lights burned even when there was no supply left speaks of the All-Sufficient One – El Shaddai.

Christians have been quick to write off the feasts articulated in the Bible as Jewish Feasts. Yes, legions of faithful Jews have kept these feasts, because they have lived their lives trying to abide by the commandments given to them in the Word of God. As Christians, we have been told that we no longer have to keep the letter of the Law, which is true in the context that the letter of the Law kills. But… God’s commandments also show us the way of life: 1 John 2:3-6 says:

“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in Him. But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”

The Church has overlooked some important details when it comes to being holy as He is holy. The Bride of Christ, as exemplified by the 144,000 “firstfruits” who “kept themselves pure” and “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Rev. 14:4), are those “saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus” (Rev. 14:12). In that place of grace, we walk as Jesus walked. He walked “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

There are four Essential Commandments for ALL Believers listed in Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29, and Acts 21:25 that basically prohibit things that had or have connections with pagan customs and/or traditions. These essentials are abstinence requirements for God’s people so that they can live a holy life, just as abstinence before marriage preserves the sanctity of holy matrimony.For example, the first essential commandment’s most accurate translation tells us to abstain from things sacrificed to or contaminated by idols. As SANTA-TIZING: What wrong with Christmas and how to clean it up articulates in chapter 4: “…almost every single Christmas custom or tradition is a thing saturated with paganism (i.e., contaminated by idols).” The abstinence requirements for the Bride of Christ preserve the sanctity of holy matrimony to our Bridegroom.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go into the city. Outside are . . . the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Rev. 22:14-15).

The holiness requirements for the Lord’s living stones (i.e., you and me) are so important that they were mentioned twice when the founding church fathers were discussing what the nations needed to do to become part of God’s household.  Then, incredibly, Paul repeats them again in Acts 21:25 when he arrives in Jerusalem after his third missionary journey. These were Paul’s last days. He topped off his final missionary efforts (gathering funds for the church in Jerusalem) with a final exhortation to the people in the nations to keep the Essential Commandments for All Believers.

If Christians truly want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, we must walk as Jesus did. He literally walked in the temple area called Solomon’s Colonnade during the Feast of Dedication. This was, and still is, Jesus’ Winter One-der-land . Won’t you do as He did? Won’t you walk with Him too?

Please refer to “Winter One-der-land” article  http://wp.me/p158HG-aH .

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Copyright Dec. 15, 2012 – When you copy, please copy it right by including attribution to this article. Author: Robin Main.

Twitter: @SANTATIZING, Facebook: http://facebook.com/santatizing, Website: www.santa-tizing.com, Email: santatizing@gmail.com

Some references can be found in my book: SANTA-TIZING: What’s wrong with Christmas and how to clean it up (available on amazon http://www.amazon.com/SANTA-TIZING-Whats-wrong-Christmas-clean/dp/1607911159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353692179&sr=1-1&keywords=SANTA_TIZING).

Ephesians 3:20, 21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

“Exceedingly abundantly”…..I like that phrase. God is the God of “exceedingly abundances”. There is no lack, no shortage, no inability or impossibilities with God! He is El Shaddai, the all-sufficient One!

The Amplified Bible records Ephesians 3:20 like this:

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]–

God, by His power that works within us is able to do super abundantly more than what we would dare to ask of Him that is far beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams!

I want to ask you this morning: What is it that is far beyond your highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams that you would like to see God do in your life? God is able! God is willing! God has the power to do it! God has the resources to bring it into being!

The question then becomes: Why am I not seeing it happen?

Now that’s where the complication comes in. We often do not see the super-abundance that God wants to bring into our lives because we don’t believe that He wants to do; that He will do it, or that He is able to do it for us. We can see Him doing great things for other people, but we have difficulty believing that He would do those same things for us.

It then boils down to this question: What power is it that is working within us?

The Scripture says God works His super-abundance within us according to “His power that works in us”! His power is what does the work to provide the super-abundance! But many times the negative, unbelieving power that says “it’ll never happen for me” becomes more influential or more outstanding to us than the fact that God’s power is greater than any other power that would try to manifest itself in our thinking.

The power that is referred to in this Scripture is the power of God’s Spirit within a believer! That is the same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead after His crucifixion!

The Greek word for “power” in Ephesians 3:20 is “dunamis”. It’s definition is force (lit. or fig.); spec. miraculous power; ability, abundance, meaning, might; power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

It is the word from which we get our English word “dynamite”. The dynamic, miraculous, abundant, wonderful power of God is what works in you to manifest His exceedingly abundant promises!

Exceedingly abundantly – Greek word “perissos” – means super-abundance, excessive, overflowing surplus, over and above, more than enough, profuse, extraordinary, above the ordinary, more than sufficient.

The abundance that is referred to in this scripture is the same abundance that Jesus spoke of in John 10:10:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may it more abundantly.”

This is the same Greek word “perissos” that means super-abundance. Jesus came to give us a super-abundant life! When we think of abundance as a Biblical term we must understand that God gave His Son, Jesus, to die for us to forgive us from the sin that separates us from God, to heal our bodies, and to deliver us from poverty and lack. Those three areas comprise the needs of the total man: spirit, soul, and body. Biblical abundance or prosperity then means health for your total being (body, mind, emotions, relationships), as well as provision for your material needs. The power of God’s Spirit within us works to supply in abundance the provision that is needed in each area of our lives.

Are you seeing the exceedingly abundantly happen in your life? If not, have you asked God to do the miraculous in your situation? If so, are you believing that He will do it?

Everything that we receive from God comes by His grace through our faith. His grace is what supplies the super-abundance and our faith is what carries it to us. God has already laid up in Heaven the grace to supply your every need, even the miraculous things that seem to be too big and too far out of reach.

There is a promise in God’s word for every need that we will ever face in our lives. Faith reaches out into God’s storehouse of provision and lays hold of the promise that He gives us that meets the need that we are facing. When we place our trust in God, pray for our needs, believe we receive them when we pray and do not doubt, God’s word says we will have those things that we have ask of Him.

Mark 11:22-24 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Faith and doubt cannot co-exist if you want to see the promises of God manifest in your life. I’m sure you have heard the term “doubting Thomas” sometime during your lifetime. It is referring to Thomas in the Bible when he didn’t believe that Jesus had risen from the dead without first seeing Him. It is recorded in John 20:24-29:

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Thomas is termed as “doubting Thomas” because he doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead and refused to believe until he saw Him. Jesus told Thomas that he had believed because he saw the proof right there with him, but those who believe without seeing are the ones who are blessed. Faith reaches out into the spiritual realm where God has laid up His promises for us and pulls those things that we have need of into existence through believing before we see them manifested. Jesus said those are the ones who are blessed!

Paul referred to this act of faith as fighting the good fight of faith and laying hold on eternal life.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

I remember as a little girl that sometimes we would have snapping turtles come into the ditch in front of our house after a big rain and my mother cautioned me about not getting too close to them because with their long necks they could reach out and bite me. She said a snapping turtle wouldn’t turn loose until it thundered. Of course, as a little girl that frightened me and has stuck with me all through the years. Fighting the good fight of faith brings that thought back to my remembrance and gives me a picture of fighting like that snapping turtle holding on for dear life. Another term that I think about when I am fighting the good fight of faith is that of “bull-dog tenacity”. In other words, both of these terms give me the connotation to “lay hold of eternal life” as being done with tenacious endurance, fighting as if I were in a fierce battle to win at all costs! That’s what faith does!

Hebrews 10:35-39 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith, But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in Him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Don’t give up before the manifestation of your promise! Don’t throw away your confidence that God is working in you to do the exceedingly abundantly things that He has promised! Exercise tenacity and endure until it arrives! Live by faith, not by what you see, hear, think, feel or taste. God is faithful to do all that He promises in your life. Will you receive it?

Father, I thank You for the exceedingly abundances that I have seen You do in my life. You have always been faithful to keep Your promises to me. Thank You for Your faithfulness to Your word and to Your people. You are great and greatly to be praised! Wonderful, precious, Almighty God, I worship and praise You today for you are worthy!

Father, I pray this morning for those who are needing a miracle in their lives. I ask You, Father, to bring into manifestation those things that they are praying for, believing for and waiting to see come into existence. Give them a glimpse of what You are doing in their lives so they may continue to hope and put their trust in You. Father, I know that You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that they might dare to pray, ask, or imagine according to Your power that works in them. Thank You for fulfilling Your promises in their lives. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Please put a penny in the old man’s hat.

If you have no penny, a hay-penny will do,

And if you have no hay-penny, then God bless You.”

This is from an old children’s song that I used to enjoy on my record player, from my childhood.  Generosity is paramount and highlighted this time of the year.  People are more apt to donate to the needy or to organizations that support the needy and homeless.  As you find yourself in the spirit of giving, always be sure to research the organization that you are considering, as there are many schemers out there.

There are so many people, so many families, that are experiencing grueling struggles this year.  Unemployment is at an all time high, and no one truly knows the true numbers of the unemployed and struggling, because our system cannot possibly keep up with those who have over-extended their unemployment resources and thusly, those unfortunate souls have fallen off the grid.  The present unemployment percentage is truly just a fraction of those actually struggling with hopelessness and disgrace.  Millions of homes are in foreclosure or have been foreclosed upon already, and this trend will continue to worsen as our country’s economy continues to slowly crumble.

Why do I bring up Christmas and then dash all such joyous thoughts with information on our poverty-stricken countrymen (and women)?  Because, this Christmas should be spent, in my opinion, soberly contemplating the gift that we did not deserve, but were given, that some still have denied.  The Creator of Heaven and Earth, descended to the Earth, through a miraculous and truly unbelievable, but true virgin birth.  Jesus’ humble beginnings can be a reminder that it doesn’t take much to survive.  A warm bed and three decent meals a day are all we truly need to sustain us, everything else is not actually necessary, aside from love.

Through out Jesus’ ministry, He had no place to call home.  He traveled light, but made the most incredible impact any one man has ever made.  And then, fully knowing and expressing His fate to His followers, He tarried on, sharing the love of Our Father through miracles and teachings- wonderful stories that we are able to enjoy, to this day, as found in the Holy Bible.

He encouraged His followers,  not to turn a blind eye to the needy.  Even before He arrived on the scene, the Hebrews were instructed to care for the widows, the orphans and the homeless.  This is our charge, as followers of Christ, adopted by the God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac.  If we see a need that we can meet, we are instructed to do so, without hesitation.

To me, the most amazing part of this, is that it is also stated in Deuteronomy, that we will be blessed for being charitable!  What an incredibly generous gesture on the part of El Shaddai, especially considering that we should not need such incentives to do what is right and kind, just and proper.   I have experienced the reception of such blessings on many occasions and am happy to report that, as always, Our Heavenly Father is true to His promises.

These blessings come in many forms, but, they always come, and it always does more for my heart than I dare try to express with my limited word-smithing.  God deserves so much more.  I praise Him, in the quiet moments of my days, for all the blessings He bestows upon me and my family…and I cannot seem to escape the feeling of unworthiness.  For as often as I do give, I mess things up more often.  I slip, I cuss, I issue ugly judgements in silent thought…I’m human, watch me err!!

And that very fact, that I’m utterly imperfect and hopelessly flawed, and yet through the greatest gift of all, I am blessed to know and receive God’s unfailing, unending love, is what fuels my passion of sharing the Love of Christ with you.

That little baby, born in a manger, was the greatest gift one could ever receive.  No home, nor car, nor diamond-ladened jewelry could ever be worth more than the price Jesus paid on the cross for our salvation.  Salvation IS the gift that keeps on giving.  And if you have experienced this gift, and have truly accepted it, and all it’s connotations, then you truly have it all and need nothing more.

However, if you are reading this today, and have yet to ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, then this gift is still just a mystery, and possibly, in your minds, a fantasy.  I am here to tell you that what you believe to be fantasy, is absolutely tangable and is yours for the taking.  But you must first overcome your preconceived notions and take a true leap of faith.

I had the pleasure of knowing a lovely woman who was kind enough to express that even though she wants to believe in Christ, in a concrete way, the way her mind works, fights against her abilities to abandon logic.  It really opened my eyes to why some have such a hard time taking that leap of faith required to let go of the old life for a new, restored life in Christ.  Many people have to see, touch and feel something to believe in it.  Imagine if chairs were like Jesus…there, but unseen…there would be a whole lot of people just standing around, even with others sitting in these invisible chairs that are obviously holding them up.

Faith is believing in things that you cannot see.  Even one of Jesus’ own followers had a hard time believing Jesus had risen from death and had to see and touch Jesus’ nail-scarred hands, before accepting that their Savior had truly returned to them.

But Jesus held out his hands to Thomas, and then showed him where the spear pierced his side.  Only after Thomas touched Jesus’ wounds, did he believe.  Jesus then said the following, and it is what I would like for you,  who still do not believe, to meditate on today.  For these words came from a gift that is just waiting to be received.

John 20:29  Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Look!!  Another blessing, just for believing in Him!  Actually, it is the biggest and most continual blessing anyone can EVER receive.  Jesus loves His faithful children and bestows upon us, blessing upon blessing, through out our lives.  We cannot do anything to deserve this continual flow of blessings except to believe in Him and follow His commands.  Shoot, even then, we fail Him…but His Love for us NEVER fails.

Will these blessings be yours for the taking this Christmas season?  Will you proclaim the Lord of Lords and King of Kings as your Savior and King this Christmas?  I pray you will.  You will never receive a better gift.  It is in giving, that we receive.  So why not give your life to Jesus today?

If you are interested in asking the Lord into your heart and life, feel free to leave a message below.  I would love to help you come to know Him as I do.

Until next time,

Feliz Navidad y Vaya con Dios!

Praise you Father. I am having one of those kinds of mornings where I just need to know that there is something bigger than me. Because if not, then the world would be a very scary place. It can be overwhelming at times to be in ministry because you are continually exposed to the heartache and grief of others and are left realizing again, the reality of the broken world in which we live. Suicide, divorce, abuse, death from disease, financial crisis…and these are all things that have crossed our paths just in the past couple of weeks. People are hurting. CHRISTIANS are hurting. Christians don’t have it all together (gasp!) – sorry to disappoint you - nor do pastors (double gasp!!). Because the reality of the fact of the matter is that this world is struggling under the burden of sin. And since we are in the world, we share this burden. It’s enough to drive me to my knees in desperation, begging God for a glimpse of His hand amidst the mess.

And that is when He speaks. I AM THE LORD ALMIGHTY. I have been studying the names of God lately after attending a women’s ministry event where the speaker challenged us to get to know the different names of God and to use His specific names when praying to Him about certain situations. Here is a link for you to check out that lists all of the names of God and their meanings: http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm

And today I need a heavy dose of El Shaddai (the Lord Almighty) or in the Greek, Pantokrator, meaning “he who holds sway over all things, the ruler of all”. Amen. Isn’t that just good to think about every now and then. The ball doesn’t stop with us and our pathetic broken world, thoughts, ideas and emotions. There is One who is greater, and who is on the throne over all of it! Revelation 19:6 says, “Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” And so he does. In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” This world just ain’t all there is – Hallelujiah!! So if things seem a bit (or quite) out of control in your universe today, take a minute to say a prayer to El Shaddai – the Lord Almighty – the ruler over all! (And for good measure, you just might want to listen to this song by Michael W. Smith while you’re doing it!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPBmFwBSGb0

This week we get write to the point with Carole Towriss, she is sharing her Genesis 5020 today.

Carole’s debut novel came out November 1st and sounds fasinating. If you like stories that come from the Bible you will love this one. Read to the end, Carole has a giveaway for you.

 When my husband and I got married, we talked about having a large family. Six kids—that’s what we wanted.

We tried for eight years to get pregnant. Eight long years of doctor’s visits, pills, shots, and failed procedures. Oh, and tears. Lots of tears. I used to cry in the shower. Somehow I felt better if the salt water flowing from my eyes got lost in the warm water flowing out of the showerhead.

The seventh year, we lost a baby on Christmas Eve. It was the only time in those eight years we got pregnant. Wow, was I mad. Upset. Confused. Why would God give us a baby for two weeks just to take it away? Answer our prayer only to smash our dream? It wasn’t fair.

We had to wait a week, until New Year’s Eve Day, for the d&c. A week of questions, doubts, more tears, and prayers for a miracle. I couldn’t even tie a knot at the end of my rope and hang on because I couldn’t find the end. I truly wondered if my faith could carry me through this. But I remember standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes. I felt like I was falling, collapsing. Then I distinctly felt God tell me in my spirit that everything would be all right. I felt His hand hold me up, give me strength. I had no idea if that meant that the baby would be all right—though I doubted it—or more likely, that I would be OK. God and I would be OK.

We decided we’d try once more before giving up. Exactly one year later, on Christmas Eve, God sent Emma. He replaced that painful memory with a joyous one.

Over the next seven years, we adopted three children from Kazakhstan. We now have four kids, ages 18, 13, 11 and 11. (The last two are four weeks apart.) Four kids who share not a shred of DNA, and very few traits. Our house is noisy and loud and chaotic and frequently drives visitors—and my mother—insane. Well, not literally.

But it’s everything I’ve ever wanted. God did it in His own way and in His own time and for His own reasons. It was a long and painful journey to get here, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Bio:

Carole Towriss grew up in beautiful San Diego, California. Now she and her husband live just north of Washington, DC. In between making tacos and telling her four children to pick up their shoes for the third time, she reads, watches chick flicks, writes and waits for summertime to return to the beach. Her first novel, In the Shadow of Sinai, released November 1. You can find her at www.CaroleTowriss.com.

 Blurb for In the Shadow of Sinai:

Bezalel is a Hebrew slave to Ramses II. An artisan of the highest order, Ramses has kept him in the palace even when all other Israelites have been banned. Bezalel blames El Shaddai for isolating him from his people.

 When Moses and Aaron appear one summer, and El Shaddai shakes Egypt to its core, Bezalel must reexamine his anger. Over the course of the next year, Bezalel’s life becomes intertwined with those of an Egyptian child-slave, the captain of the guard, and especially a beautiful, young concubine.

 When spring arrives, all of them escape with the young nation of Israel. But that’s only the beginning…

Carole, thank you so much for sharing and being transparent with my readers. We rejoice with you over God’s goodness in your life.

Readers, leave a comment for Carole by December 11 at 5:00 pm to be entered to win a paperback copy of her book.

EL SHADDAI (“God Almighty”) – Genesis 49:24

24  But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),

EXAMPLE

In 1715 King Louis XIV of France died after a reign of 72 years. He had called himself “the Great,” and was the monarch who made the famous statement, “I am the state!” His court was the most magnificent in Europe, and his funeral was equally spectacular. As his body lay in state in a golden coffin, orders were given that the cathedral should be very dimly lit with only a special candle set above his coffin, to dramatize his greatness. At the memorial, thousands waited in hushed silence. Then Bishop Massilon began to speak; slowly reaching down, he snuffed out the candle and said, “Only God is great.”

- Unknown

LESSON

At first glance, we might think that this name for God means the same thing as El – God of Power and Might. However, Shaddai means another type of power and might than the name El means. The Almighty of Shaddai means specifically that God has the power to keep his promises or that God has the power to do what he says he will do – especially if the promise seems humanly impossible. Shaddai, then, is a wonderful metaphor, presenting God as the one who nourishes, supplies and satisfies. In this case, Shaddai means that God is all-sufficient or enough.

God is our unlimited supply of everything we need; he is enough and we need nothing else. He will keep his Word and fulfill his promises and we don’t need to look for or work out any other solution. He is able to do abundantly more than we could ask or imagine. We only need to believe him and take him at his Word!

I.      Why did God wait until Abram was 100 years old and Sarah 90 years old to fulfill his promise of giving them a son? What does this reveal about God and the promises he makes?

II.     Can you think of a promise that God has specifically spoken to you either through       his written Word or through the Holy Spirit to your heart? Did he keep his promise? Will he keep his promise?

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD… Isaiah 61:1-2

This prophecy goes on to say:

And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:2-3

Perhaps it is because of the Thanksgiving holiday, but the phrase “mantle of praise” stood out to me these last couple of days. The word mantle is used many places in the old testament. A mantle was the outer cloak or covering worn for warmth and protection. It was the ordinary persons only blanket. It came to represent spiritual covering as well and a mantle was a symbol of authority.

So, to have a “mantle of praise” implies that praise entirely covers the person, keeping them warm and protected. It also implies that God’s authority is resting upon the person. It makes sense, then, that to be covered in praise would be the counter to a “spirit of fainting”. Where fainting implies shrinking away in fear or cowardice, being covered in praise for the God of the universe, El Shaddai, the All Sufficient God, El Gibbor, The Mighty God, would keep one warm and protected spiritually;  give courage and strength.

So, when we praise God, we are keeping the focus of our spiritual gaze directly on He who can take on any threat. When we praise God, we put on the mantle that gives us strength and courage. Perhaps God also receives something from the praise of His followers, but I believe He asks for our praise mainly for our benefit; mainly to keep us safe, warm and protected. Even when God seems to be asking for something for Himself, He is looking out for us.

“Death is swallowed up in Victory”; by my husband; the Second Death on the Winepress sitting on KALKI; Maitreya Buddha returns as “Faith on Earth” — the Warhorse “the Zeal of Jehovah of hosts”

First; a Look at the Theogony of Hesiod; the Notes “written on the gods’; by Robert Graves

The Curse of the Son of Perdition and the Merkabah of Elijah Uncovered

“..Where once I reigned, now a whorish abomination has sprung to life, a Frankenstein pieced together from the shards of my life and thoughts…”

“This apparent indentification of Apollo with Jehovah seems to have alarmed the Pharisees, though they did not dare to reject the vision ( of Ezekiel, and the Amber colored Creatures of the enthroned figure he saw ).

It is recorded that a student who recognized the meaning of hashmal ( amber –”hashmal” is modern hebrew for for electricity; “electricity” is derived from the Greek word for amber ) and discussed it imprudently was blasted by lightning. ( Haggada, 13.B ).

For this reason according to the Mishnah the Ma’aseh Merkabah (“Work of the Chariot”) might not be taught to anyone unless he were not only wise but able to deduce knowledge through wisdom (“gnosis”) of his own, and no one else might be present during the teaching.”

…..And here is where this curious statement is then made; to wit;

 “…….And he who speaks of the things which are before, behind, above and below,

it were better that he had never been born……“

This exact phrase is quite curious, as regarding what would then be a curse for the worst of men; and the Lamb used it also, but in a far different context;  as seen in Matthew 26:24, to wit;

“The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!

 …..it had been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Thus the curse handed down by the rabbins of the Law and the scribes of Scripture used this very same phrase to damn anyone attempting to open the scriptures with the very key they provide even as they damn anyone who uses it to “unlock” the scripture regarding the Chariot of Elijah which is “the Name of the Father”; and in language that my Father Jesus expressly used to describe not a scribe; but the one they gave 30 pieces of silver to:  Judas Iscariot.

The Mother or “The Deep” called Rahab in the Old Testament is then she who God had taken pity on, when He saw her being held captive by the product of her own imagination, as falling and becoming enslaved to the idea entertained therein as her own troubling ”Nightmare” figure of incestuous desire, that was hid within her “Daydream” of a child; as that creation she wanted to manifest as of “her Brightness”; and to then yet also want to then consume as in “the Darkness” of her insatiable hunger or “desire”.

God was then He who had put the Idea into play of having the Daughter seperarate from her mother; and then become a new creature herself when divided as a mother that would be the Genetrix or “always rising” mother.

Bob Dylan’s comment that “…..he not busy being born; is busy dying…..”, perfectly explains this very relation.

In God’s Design it was Adam who was to “re-enact” the Original Act of Creation which was to be for his Son exactly as God the Creator or Lover had brought forth the Light which became “the Day”.

But the “Sea” has another name: Time.

And “Night”? It hath another name; it’s called Space.

 Likewise it was the Vertical or Divine Principle that Adam was to have used to divide himself as “the Day”  from his Wicked Twin Brother ”the Night” who was ”…his Shadow..”, lurking behind him, always seeking to invade and incarnate its discarnate image in his flesh, the one who the Lamb said was “…a Murderer from the Beginning,…..”.

But Death is the Shadow of God….and is reserved for those who; after being seperated from darkness: then seek to return to it and reject living in truth before the Face of God.

Sleep is then the sister of Death; whose brother is Night. 

This is why the Lamb said; “Get behind me; Satan”.

The angelic spirit of man that goeth upwards; and the demonic spirit of the beast that goeth downwards…the libido; and the id…

This “Shadow” or “Twin” of the “Day” is then called Night; as regards the two dvisions written of in Genesis and so beginning the uncovering of the Secret of  the Work of the Chariot itself; in large part  for those in the Unification Church, as being those in the position as the modern Essenes who were the old Elect of Israel, with Sun Myung Moon in the position of the dead body of John the Baptist, after it was tragically “cut asunder”, at John’s beheading in the palace of Herod.

The key thus given was to have been uncovered by the return of the Prodigal Son of David who had originally recovered it from Jehovah as the Cloud of Light  called “the Shekinah” or doubly feminine “bosom” of the Creator: called the ”Wisdom of God” . In fact the rabbins of the Law, as the raven’s of Elijah, called Aaron and Moses the “breasts of Jehovah”; as they alluded to this hidden mystery known to few outside of the environs of the Elect of Israel.

The “why” can be seen in Adam’s admonition not to touch the Tree of the Knowledge to Eve “lest ye die”; which God had given to him when He said “For in the day that thou eatest of the Tree of Knowledge; thou wilt surely die..”.

Of course we have Sun Myung Moon in his book “Divine Principle” to thank  for utterly confusing this issue, by saying that Eve herself was the “tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil”; but the truth is that God created that Tree long before he created Eve; and gave the commandment to Adam not to go near it before He took Eve out of the Side of Adam; so Mr. Moon’s interpretation of this  integral part of Genesis is false: and quite wrong and actually misleading to the extreme. Moon’s book is full of these misleading sentences, each one having the potential to utterly estrange one from attaining to the Reality of either “Moses the Servant of God’, or ”Elijah the Seal of God”, if one “swallows” such fallacies.

The “Work of the Chariot” or “Merkabah” was such a dread mystery that the scribes and scholars of the Torah and all the commentaries in the Mishnah and others places placed a curse upon any who would try to unveil the Mystery of the Chariot of Elijah.

But why?

The Work of the Chariot

For those who find that the Name of the Father represents the chariot of iIrael we have then those who have ascertained why Elisha called out these curious words as he saw Elijah ascending at II Kings 2:11-12; to wit;

“…..And it came to pass, as they ( Elisha and Elijah ) still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a Chariot of Fire, and horses of Fire, which arted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

And Elisha saw it, and he cried ‘My Father, my Father, the Chariot of Israel and the horses thereof!’.

And he saw him ( Elijah ) no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. … “

“…Before me shall every knee bow…” saith the Most High El Elion; the God of Submission to the Will is Allah

The Name of the Father as the Chariot of Israel; and the name of the Son as the Chariot of Elijah

Robert Graves then writes on page 343 of his book “The White Goddess” this description of the situation in Israel that caused them to hide the key of knowledge; as Solomon saod; “The Knowledge of the Holy is Understanding”. Here are the passages:

On the whole it was considered safest to leave the Merkabah alone, especially as it was prophesied that “in the fulness of time Ezekiel will come again and unlock for Israel the chambers of the Merkabah.” ( Cant. Rabbah, I, 4. )“

Thus only a few known Rabbis taught the mystery and only to the most select of their pupils; among them Rabbi Johanan ben Zadkai, Rabbi Joshua ( Vice-President of the Sanhedrin under Gamaliel ), Rabbi Akiba and Rabbi Nehunia. Rabbi Zera said that even chapter headings of the Merkabah must not be communicated except to a person who was the head of an academy and was cautious in temperament.

Rabbi Ammi said the doctrine could be entrusted only to one who possessed all the five qualities enumerated in Isaiah, III, 3: the captain of fifty, the honourable man, the counsellor, the skilled craftsmen, the eloquent orator.

The belief grew that expositions of the Merkabah mystery would cause Jehovah to appear.”Rabbi Johanan ben Zadkai was riding along the road upon his ass , while his pupil Eleazar ben Arak walked behind him. Said Rabbi Eleazar: ‘Master, teach me about the Work of the Chariot.’

Rabbi Johanan declined. Rabbi Eleazar said again: ‘Am I permitted  to repeat in your presence the one thing you have already taught me?’

Rabbi Johanan assented, but dismounted from his ass, wraped himself in his gown and seated himself upon a stone under an olive tree. He declared that it was unseemly that he should be riding while his pupil was discoursing on so awful a mystery, and while the Shekinah ( ‘the Brightness’ ) and the Malache ha-Shareth ( ‘the Angels-in-waiting’ ) were accompanying them.

Immediately Rabbi Eleazar began his exposition, fire came down from Heaven and encircled them and the whole field.

The angels assembled to listen, as the sons of man assemble to witness the festivities of a marriage, and there was a singing in the terebinth-trees:

“Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons and all deeps, fruitful trees and all cedars, praise ye the Lord!”

To which an angel answered from the fire, saying: “This is the Work of the Chariot!”

When Eleazar had finished, Johanan stood up and kissed him on the head. He said: ‘Praised be the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, for He has given our father Abraham a wise son who knows how to discourse on the glory of our Father in Heaven.’ “

Rabbi Jose ha-Kohen and Rabbi Joshua had similr experiences.oAnd once Rabbi ben Azzai was sitting in meditation on the Scriptures when suddenly a flame encircled him.

His pupils ran to Rabbi Akiba, who came up and said to Azzai: “Art thou studying the mysteries of the Merkabah?” 

In Luke 11:52 we have this saying of my Father; to wit:

“Alas for you expounders of the Law! …

…..for you have taken away ( as having hid ) the key of knowledge:

you yourselves have not entered, and those who wanted to enter you have hindered.”

“In ancient times the rabbins carried a key, which was the symbol or emblem of knowledge.

Hence it is written in Semachoth, chap. 8.

“When Rab. Samuel ‘the little’ died, his key and his tablets were hung on his tomb, because he died childless”.

In Matthew 23:13 it was said thus a little differently;

“But alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! …  for you lock the door of the Kingdom of the Heavens against men;

you yourselves do not enter, nor do you allow those to enter who are seeking to do so..”

The House of Sophia on Parnassus Heights; Robert Oppenheimer and Hokaan Chevalier

In the Principle of God it was thus said that the loss of  his seed by Adam was a transgression automatically being punishable by Death. But there was nothing written to cover only a third being lost; in an act which was not “coitus” as in an act of penetration; but one in which the two were joined “through the eyes” as each pleasured themselves at the SAME TIME; thus was the scheme of the Creatrix (  that spoken of by my Father Jesus when he said “ …and if the light in thee be darkness; how Great is that Darkness!…” ) that she had taught the serpent ( angel of the Devil ); subsequently introjected into the Garden ( Divine Nature) of Eden ( Nature), much to God’s apparent consternation, when He finally returned from His interrupted Day of Holy Rest.

But the serpent had been instructed by someone who God knew might choose to make their move when he left to go on His day of Rest: it was his snare to trap the Creatrix or “Rahab”; who God had “cut” in twain; when He seperated the lower waters of mortality and death from the upper waters of immortality and life; the daughter; which came to be called Eve or “woman”; as female half or the “Soul” of Adam. But the Deep; the Mother of Night; was furious. Thus she secretly instructed the serpent on how to best God; whose help of Adam had allowed him to beat the serpent in the naming of the Archetypes; thus becoming the lord of the beasts, giving Adam a hint of what each creature was to be called by how He introduced each one to Adam as the sound or “letter” of the “introduction” of each creatures hidden name that He brought before Adam. 

“I have gotten  A MAN  from the Lord”;

The soul and the spirit are the Two hands of the Spirit of God; when they become One Hand then does His Dream come Holy and True to Life; and His Prayer for His Children to Know His Holy Spirit is then Answered…

“As Moses raised the serpent in the Wilderness, so must the Son of Man be raised up ( on the Cross ). But when he is raised he will raise all men to him..”

The angelic spirit of man that goeth upwards; and the demonic spirit of the beast that goeth downwards…the libido; and the id…

The Curse of the Son of Perdition and the Merkabah of Elijah Uncovered

Thus we see Epimetheus the brother of Prometheus is actually Aaron. But Pandora is the foolish Israel as his handmaiden and servant who breaks the Covenant and thus“opens“ the sealed book of the Law that was carried in the Ark  in Leviticus was writ; where the plagues that ‘Pandora’ was told not to go near were placed….or it would manifest the Curse of Moses on Israel if they broke the Covenant as seen in the “lock” on the Chest Pandora found the key to her husband hid and with which she opened it.

The two thirds of the angels obeyed in obeying God as “hot”; the one third that hung back; as “lukewarm” were then called into account. And some had flatly refused in that lukewarm third of the host; as “cold”. But at least their “no” was “no”.

That is why they are called “the terrible ones” of the “host of the high ones on high” who speak in thr Qur’an as “We”; they who say God “has never had a son”; but they mean one of flesh; still denying Adam was the Living Image of God to become the Incarnate Word as the Righteous Son of God.

The New Day Star of Josyp Terelya; the Holy Angel of the Ukraine

The Angel of Patmos; and the Guestroom at 1520 Willard St. in the City of St. Francis

 

The black unicorn Monique Tiffany Scott; the discarnate shadow of that Pure Good: the girl who never existed…and still does…but she also visited this guestroom…

My grandmother, S. Ruth Witt-Diamant told me that Anais thought she was ANGEL, ( the “S” stood for ‘Sophia’); and her trust with Ruth was such that she kept all her diaries and private papers in Ruth’s basement where Ruth’s son Stephen spent hours reading them; without anyone’s knowledge; of course.

One of the guests of the Room; a good friend of my Grandmother; who had kept her manuscript for her diaries in the basement until they were published: Anais Nin. She lived around the corner later on Edgewood in a Japanese outdoor pagoda wrapped in silk…..

The angel and the Welshman

The fellow who reahed the “stream of consciousness”; the hidden curremt of Arcadia; Ruth’s good friend and associate; Dylan Thomas

The City of St. Francis of Assisi

One of Henry Miller’s other lovers…..Brenda Venus

1. )  The Great 4 Position Curse of Moses;

in Leviticus 26:7 at 1st position of the Will,

                26:21 at 2nd position of the Purity;

            26:24 at 3rd position of the Understanding,

      26:28 at the 4th position of the Knowledge

 and the Warning to Israel.

              Section One: Israel’s Entry into Eden: The Book of Jasher

         1. )  Adam re-entering the Promised Land; the ‘Great River of the Euphrates’ and the Entry of Joshua as the Last after the Host.

          2. )  The 12 Stones of the 12 Tribes and the 12 Princes; the Return to Paradise ‘dryshod through the Jordan River’.

Part 1.)  The Three Great Blessings at the Virginity of Adam,

 and the Curse Hidden for Israel within the Reward for Balaam

             A, ) Balaam and the Three Great Blessings of God to Adam restored at the Three Sets of the 7 Altars.

              B. ) The two groups of animals on the 7 Altars;

                     1.)   the revealing of the “enemy” who planted the “Tares” with the “Wheat”.

Part  2.)  the Reason both good and evil reach their perfection;

…………….. Rev. Moon’s explanation: and mine 

                                         the “filthy and the unjust” ones of John; and the ‘righteous and the holy’ ones of John

             C, ) The Original Three Great Blessings and the Light of the Sun as the Virginity of Adam; the Magnification of the  Three Great Blessings Seven Fold; the Resurrection of Life of the Wheat and “the Perfection of those who had done Good”; the Resurrection unto Damnation for the Tares and “the Perfection of those through came great Evil”.

             D. )  The Original One Commandment;

…………….First Commandment of God to Adam and the Seal of Adam;

                     and the Magnification to the Ten Commandments of Moses from Jehovah, the Holy Spirit of God. 

                                             at theadditional Indemnity:

          Part 3. )   Moses Warning on Mt. Ebal to Israel;

………… and the Curse on those who would break the Covenant.

                               1. The placing of the Two Great Lights; the Male principle of the Sun on Mount Gibeon, and the Female principle of the Moon over the Valley of Avalon/Ajalon after the Two Covenants of Night and Day seen as of the Pillar of Fire for Night  (Witnesss of Earth) and the Pillar of Cloud for Day as (the Witness of Heaven) were replaced at the Restoration into Eden written of in the lost Book of Jasher.

                                2.  The restoring  of the Seal in the  Ten Commandments to Israel.

                                         l.     Moses and the prophecy of the Corruption to come after the Blessing.

                                         II. The Evil spirits of the blackness of darkness of Egypt: the Baby Moses and the Nile River

                                          III. The Lost Phallus of Osiris and the Golden One of Isis

                                          IV. The Serpent of Moses and the Lost Word of Freemasonry: Set and Seth 

                                           V. The Binding of the Djinn: the Swallowing of the Sorcerer’s staves before the throne of Pharaoh.  

                   E. )  The Original Covenant of the Seed of Adam in Paradise at the  7 Days of the Week; the Great Sabbath;

                                        and the Magnification of the Covenant of the Seed of Israel in the Promised Land

                                          at the 4 Sabbaths in the 28 days of the 4 Weeks of the Month

  2.)  The Jinn of the Golden Pot; the Hidden Curse of the Ark.

     Moses; Joshua the Minister of Moses and the Captain of the Host ,

         and the Four Square Curse of the 4 Positions in Leviticus 26:7, 21,  24,  28.

                    a.)     the 4 sevens of the 4 position Curse of Moses in Leviticus

                     b.)  the investiture of Joshua and the story of Job given to Joshua from Moses after his death on Mt. Nebo.

                     c.) The myth of Prometheus and Epimetheus: and the ‘creation of Israel’ by Moses and Aaron.

                                       I.)  Moses and the Sight of the burning bush.

                     Zeus as Azazyel;  the Mirror of ISIS and the “creation of Man” by Prometheus/ Moses who stole fire/ the Burning Bush from the gods.

               d. )   Prometheus/ Moses who sees the coming end of the gods and is punished by Zeus;

                              1,) the Vulture of the Griffin of Azazyel and the liver of the Planet of Regeneration; Jupiter and the daily sacrifice to the fallen Stregth of God of the Archangel of Paradise  Azazyel

                                2, )  the Curse of God on Adam and the Daily Bread of Every Cursed Day.

                                3,)    the Vision of Moses, the seeing of Christ to come and the punishment:

                                                …… of ‘Zeus on Prometheus’/…… Azazyel on Moses

                                  4.)  the Fight over Moses’  body as the Wife of Jehovah, and the Curse of Michael on Azazyel 

                                    5,)   the Liver as the organ of Regeneration ruled by Jupiter;

 3.)  The evil animal spirits of Egypt; the 12 thrones of darkness.        

The Macrocosmic Body of Adam as the Dead Body of the Solar System above, and the Microcosmic Solar System as the Living Atom of Man below

                               1.  Life  on Earth and the 7 planets of the Solar House; Microcosm and Macrocosm,

            the original 7 organs of Mankind; the major 4 ( heart, lungs, liver and kidneys)

                                                                         and the minor 3 ( intestines, bladder and stomach)

                                               a.)  The two great lights and the Male and the Female 

                               2, The 7 organs of the Macrocosmic Body of Man in heaven/  The ‘Living Atom’ of Adam on Earth 

                                                a.)  The 7 Planets as the 7 heads of the Great Red Dragon;

                                                 b.)  The 7 gods as the 7 days of the week as the Aion or ‘System of Things’.

 4.)  The 12 discarnate gods: the “real ones” of Egypt.

Defeating them as he did was why he raised his right hand: and then that power  whereby Moses said: “….I live forever…”

                        e. ) The Planets of the Solar Atom as the Macocosmic Adam: the seperation of the Earth as Eve with 7 Days

                               The the Organs of the Adamic Body as the Microcosmic Atom; the seperation of Eve as Soul with 7 Angels

                           f. ) The unleashing of the Curse: the Warning of Malachi: and the advent of the Heedless.

                           g. )   Mohammed; the Envoy of Moses, Ishmael; and the 12 Princes as the 12 Desert Tribes: the Nation of the Blessed Olive Tree: Jesus of Nazareth: the Brother of Mohammed: the Lamp of Allah. 

John the Baptist had been a Lamp that Burned and Shined: Mohammed was different: he reflected truth: like the full moon reflects the Face of the Sun.

The Curse of Pandora’s Box: The Curse of the Ark of Moses.

Section One: Israel’s Entry into Eden: The Book of Jasher

The Seal of the Commandment and the Crown of the Altar

In his book “The Sufis” Idries Shah reveals the 100th Name of Allah as none other than “Mohammed” itself; by Abjad or  ”enciphehered” lettering of “root-words” in Arabic. And he does this as revealing a Freemasonic secret. Quite extraordinary; a public revealtion from a ‘master builder’.

I don’t care what anyone says: “Sayed” /  Prince Idries Shah” was the right man: at the right time: who did the right thing.

Unheard of. But it happened; as an unseen presence will tell you: and it happened for a reason: the time had come for everything to be “revealed”. But it had to start at the “correct place” as in a more “general range” and then starting to “narrow down”.

Idries Shah had Robert Graves write the Introduection to his book: but Robert Graves for My Generation is Balaam himself.

The Prophet of the Gentiles.

The End was Coming; and the Time was at Hand.

Heady stuff; but a long time coming: and THIS time: we were packing Insurance.

And it didn’t come cheap.

The Djinn represent the evil spirits of the plagues of Egypt that were seen best when Miriam sat as Isis the White Goddess; outside the Camp and “Leprous White” for 7 days outside the camp: Babylon the Great herself,’ and Leprous White; for she and Aaron as having been manifestly Racist in the shadow of Egypt as being against Moses; for marrying a Black Cushite princess and making her his queen.

This is why Aaron and Miriam were punished and why they rose up against their brother Moses because of their hatred of this black Abyssinian woman; and this is why God Almighty intervened. And Abysssinia is Ethiopia.

As Isis Miriam sat for those 7 days; the 7 heads of the Dragon are then the 7 planets of the Solar System;  with the 7 crowns is of the 7 days of the Week with the 7 Names of the 7  gods of the Aion.

The same is seen as with the Global Canaan as the son of Ham; Ham being the the father of Egypt;

,,,,,,,,,,,,, the Hamitic race itself. 

The beast is given the power and the seat and the great authority of the Devil; as of the Kingdom of Darkness; as the dragon represents the Kingdom of Egypt; thus the 7 heads of the dragon are repeated by it’s son; as the 7 heads of the Beast from the sea; the 7 Deadly Sins themselves; each a god of the three-in-one beast from the Sea that is The Axis; and the Scarlet Colored Beast: the last beast of Revelation: the son of the Dragon: the son of the Devil; the Spirit of the Antichrist.

 Moses locked in the Ark as of his Curse in that pot of manna: as long as it was untouched: well and good; for it symbolized the seed of Adam as his Word or Promise to God when he was placed in Paradise. As the Seed in Adam’s body as long as it was kept was equivilent to his Word to God was kept: that being to keep the Commandment itself; and thus enjoy and grow with the Blessing.

So far: so good; but to lose that seed Adam was kicked out of Paradise: and to break that Covenent with Moses meant that that 4 square Cure of Moses was going to fall on Israel: and out of the promised Land they would GO!

And that’s exactly what Mohammed: he Arrived knowing Jesus was Issac as the Lamb who THIS time on the Altar of Abraham there died: and Mohammed then knew he was to Avenge his brother: because when he cleared that Courtyard he proved he was Ishmael.

And he was Ishmael because Lord Jesus warned him before in the Gospel: of the man who went into the wilderness; as with an unclean spirit; and came back; and found the House swept and raised.

But that House was Mecca; and what were swept out were all those idols.

Mohammed was Ishmael; and this is why he ascended over Mouny Moriah: by killing Issac they had killed the father of Israel: Jacob. Son now God was going to raise the desert tribes as the Next Israel; give then the Jews Blessing and the Land: and make Mecca the New Jerusalem

That is; of course; what the City of St. Francis replaced when the Children rose behind the Blessing of the Black Christian Race as the Third Israel that began the Internal Exodus at Beth-El; in those 3 Days of the Seperation after 430 years from about 1492; although some say 1517 with Luther and that Door..

Jesus of Nazareth is the Blessed Olive Tree: who lit the Lamp of Allah; the Brother of Mohammed. But the New Mecca rises with the Third Israel: but strangely the White English kids followed the Culture of Black America long before their white counterparts did in America: so they were the Messengers of that Culture: and they “Brought it” in their 12 reports; just as the 12 spies did when they went into Canaan.

Who reads this will joing the Elect He hath chosen as the Hopi who both knew of the Coming of the Son of Man: but also the Sign: the Glue Star is the Morning Star given to him who Overcomes in the 4th Church at the 4th Step of the Lamb. The 4th church of the True Vine was the Friends; the Quaker’s; from Feorge Fox; and the 4th lampstand of Thyatira John placed on London; and he put the 4th star he held in his right hand and put it on the 4th lampstand at London; when I went there in 1980.

Thyatira represents the 4th Sense of the Body of Christ which is the Sight; and the “Sense subject” is the eyes; the Sensation is “seeing”; and sight that is seen is the “Sense object”. Thus the eyes of the 4th Vision are of the eyes and they are described as ”flaming fire”.

This is intself instructive. Especially since the third sense; the tongue; is well described at the third church in the third vision: the sharp sword with two edges is the Tongue itself.

The first church’ vision is thus of one holding 7 stars in their right hand and walking a path of 7  lampstands; thus we see a body; but this body is walking the Path of the Just.

When John came to me he was to me as that angel with the 7 stars in his right hand had been to him: but now he stood in that angels position: and put each star on it’s lampstand when I overcame those 7 times.

It was like when I got a gold star in first grade when I did well on a test.

In fact it was just the same in a way; but the 7 tests are of Overcoming the beast; and the false prophet; and Satan the Devil: and then Hell and Death.

This is done by one who becomes the bride; the Lamb’s Wife: the L:ake of Fire Herself is where she burns with Fire.

And I don’t have to tell you where that Lake of Fire Burns for her Husband: everyone knows where it is.

Because now it’s called “The Second Death”.

So the Cosmic and Global stages are tough.

But it had to be done; the Time is at Hand.

“The Key of David I was given that one day is itself that Principle of Governance as Dominion seen in the Cross of Christ: that Principle of Divinty for which Jesus died on the Cross thus is seen embodied in it, and in him as well; who was crucifed as he who died stretched out upon it: as he then “became it”; the Divine Principle IS the “Iron Rod”, and thus now comes the despoilment of Sun Myung Moon to avenge the Children ofthe Resurrection who were the Children of the 60′s in the City of St. Francis: because they were the Children of Love.”

The Image of God and the Mirror of Creation Face-to-Face at Four Corners and St. Francis in 1906 on 4-18: the Altar Hearth was Cleared in the City of St. Francis

But there is another “100th Name”; but it is a 7 lettered Name like that of Jehovah: and it is the Name “Jealous”; and there you will find the Host of the Lover of God in His Wisdom; and the angels in Theirs. Sayed Idries Shah said that this name is Mohammed itself in his book “The Sufis” as seen in Freemasonry. Few read it or understood it when they did.

 But there is another dimension to this matter of the 100th Name of Allah.

Thus here we must take a look at that “other” 100th Name: the Name of Jehovah that is “Jealous” and they of the fallen host whose spirits ”hide” or “inhabit it” as “their habitation on high” or “nest”.

They are “the host of the High Ones on High”; they who fall at the end who descend on the Son of man even as the Virgins or 144,000 first fruits of God and the Lamb ascend.

 No one goes near this dreaded Name; the Near Ones are Terrible in their wrath; for it is the Name of the Lover; the Shepherd himself; the Holy Spirit of God.

The Abdal or “Abdullah”s are “the servants of God”.

But it is the angels who would not obey God who are they who laid claim to this Name: and to that Love it Guards as the Treasure it is. But the Lamb and his angels proved they who took it were unworthy of it; and it became a flame they could no longer hold: or hide behind unrighteously as being liars.

They would not worship Adam not because they broke themselves by keeping his first commandment to them ( to worship Him alone ) by breaking the second: to worship Adam and thus embue him with their grace; as their glory. It was only a ‘one time’ prostration; no big deal…Mohammed explains this even at some length in his Recitation from his book the Qur’an which Gabriel gave him at his death: for Mohammed “died” before he died; the Secret of Life; and the Keys of Hell and of Death are held in it; as his Spirit and Life; the Spirit of Life from God. 

These angels didn’t obey because they were jealous and envious of Adam; since they considered themselves to be the sons of God. And they are not altogether wrong.

In dealing with the origin of the Jinn one has to be careful; for to talk of the Jinn invariably brings them to you. Spelled by some as “the Djinn” their origin has been unknown; and nothing definite was perceived about them except they are the darkest spirits; spirits of darkness.

Thus in dealing with Osama bin Laden as the Antichrist now dead by the Hand of the One holding the Zulfiqar that Islam knows as the “ Masih Ad-Dajjal  ” we have the controversy comes from conflict; and conflict can only be resolved when the actual causes are laid bare: for where the Shia and the Sunni have irrevocably split Islam we have the shifting balance of power going from the conservative Oil Rich Arabia to extremist Atomic Weapon Iran: and the rise of the Shiite Messiah that is the National Cult of Iran: Ali-ism; or Ismailism.

Yet they shall be requited at this: the Last Day of the Resurrection that has now come.

For is is the Child of Fatimah by God in the place of Ali that brings Salvation from God to mankind: but this Mystic Pearl of the Light of Allah as that in which these 3 children appear as One Gate: and thus is seen the Door of the Ark of Salvation; as of the 3 Tiered Door of the Ark of Noah which they represent as the Hidden Imam; the Messiah of the Shia. For the Pearl of Great Price is the Gate of Allah; the Golden Gate of the New Heaven in the City of St. Francis that was opened in 1967; 50 years after 1917 and the Sun of Maryam al-Kubra; the Greater Son of the Greater Mary.

Thus did the Word of Allah say: 

“As it was in the days of Noah;

                    so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man”.

Thus God now intervenes in human history with that Hand none can gainsay nor stop; for which of the blessings of Allah would any deny???

“The Key of David I was given that one day is itself that Principle of Governance as Dominion seen in the Cross of Christ: that Principle of Divinity for which Jesus died on the Cross thus is seen embodied in it, and in him as well; who was crucifed as he who died stretched out upon it then “became it”; so the Divine Principle IS the “Iron Rod”.

What we are witnessing now is the despoilment of Sun Myung Moon as Shebna the Steward of Isaiah 22; as in the Gospel of Matthew 24:48; to avenge the Children of the Resurrection who were the Children of the 60′s in the City of St. Francis: because they were the Children of Love.”

The Sufis were the first Unificationists

The Mark of the ‘Evil Servant’ of Matthew 24:48

The Coming of the Day in which the Son of man is Revealed

It is this even that Iblis is intent on not happening that has been momentarily seen in “Iraq and Iran” now fulfilling their roles as “Gog and Magog” from Khabbani’s description in the Light:

…..but Israel will not hold it’s breath forever: thus Armageddon looms large on the horizon.

At the heart of all this is Palestine; so in the interests of further open dialogue with the Sufis of the Assembly of the Design I offer the following condensation of some of my book in the section on the final dimension that exists in the Heart of Abraham as the Heart of God; which is Paradise itself; nor is there any other.

But before resolving the question of Palestine we have to resolve how Islam was given the Kingdom and the Jews thrust out: right to the Wailing Wall; where there is nought but “weeping and gnashing of teeth”.

The “Solution” to the age-old problemm between Mohammedism and Christianity lays at the Submission of Islam and the Altar of Issac hid beneath the Sacrifice of the Lamb.

For in his Death the Word of Allah who is Jesus the Lamb said the Kingdom would; to wit;

“……. be given to “A Nation bringing forth the Fruits of it………”; 

                                   …:  and this Nation was Islam :……..

                                   The  Unicorn as the Vehicle of Salvation

As one of the firstfruits it is I who can speak of these things in the historical context of the “generations” coming from the 4 corners of the earth to the Table of Abraham as I do in my book; for the Sufis came to me for My Generation just as the Magi came to Jesus for the Jews in his Generation.

That was actually the reason bands like “the Who/ Hu” channeled the sufic impulse seen in conceptual projections of the 4 stations of sufism see in alblums like “Tommy” under the spiritual influence from that “winetaster” of the the Sufis men knew as Meher Baba.

The Trumpet of Allah sounds at the Last Day.

 That there are quite a few areas which have been unknown to the followers of the 3 monotheistic religions has more to do with the ignorance of all three about the nature of the Qur’an itself: the Curse of God “set in stone” by Moses which fell upon Israel when it lost the status of the Chosen Nation of God; and it is this Curse which is mentioned by Malachi in the last sentence, of the last book, of the last prophet of Israel before John arrived.

          Malachi strictly warned Israel to…..

               “………look at the statutes of Mt. Horeb and remember that Curse Moses said would fall upon Israel if they disappointed God and did not heed Elijah the messenger who God would send first…………”

….and as we all know;  they did not. But John also said he was not Elijah; thus many were confused and unable to discern; it was a Time of TROUBLE; for all had to rely on their best judgment to see what was actually taking place; and few passed this test.

 I want understanding to blossom; in this desert of man’s ignorance about Allah and the Word of Allah: the Lamb men call Jesus.

 It is this Curse which fell upon Jacob so that he lost the title of “Israel” as the Champion of God. At that point the seed of Ishmael became like “the stars”; and the seed of Issac reverted to “the dust of the earth”, which had been the seed of Ishmael’s former position; the mortal food or provender of the serpent. Abrahm thus became exalted over his later incarnation: Abraham.

This meant that Hagar was going to be exalted over Sarai; and sure enough: Mecca becomes established over Jerusalem. Israel lost the Temple Mount because it is Mt. Moriah where the slain and ascended Issac we know as the Bridegroom Jesus when he gave his blessing and his position to his elder brother: Ishmael; who as Muhammed ascended over Jerusalem in his Night of Power. 

 ” Which of your Lord’s Blessings would ye deny?”

Thus it was now Ishmael who is bound to the Altar in place of Issac; and it is the elder brother who was given his land in the form of the Bride; for in the Law if a brother died it was his brother who then had to take on the duties of husband to the wife and now widow of his dead brother.

That Jesus was Issac as Muhammed was Ishmael is not known: but it is the reason Muhammed dug a grave for his brither behind him at Medina; and it was the Sun of Faith; the Teacher of Jesus; who informed me of the fact; the Right Hand of God Himself.

It is in the Curse that Issac as the father of Israel was replaced by Ishmael as the new father of a new Israel: and the 12 Princes of Ishmael became the heads of the New 12 Tribes of the Arabs; even as Muhammed said; for he knew what his Lord had revealed to him was the Truth; by the Shekinah or Tranquility of Allah.

And that as a loyal Cain to replace the Messenger John  the Baptist who fell as a disloyal Abel was Muhammed in relation to Jesus and the Kingdom; as soon as he cleansed the Courtyard of the idols and restored the poisition of the elder brother as Loyal in the Cain position; replacing also the slain messenger John who was in the position of Abel when he died; as Jesus was in the position of Adam. John’s own failure lay in the fact that he reached the spirit but not the power of Elijah: for Elijah did miracles; and John did none. But this was known to the Companions of Muhammed; as of Uwais el-Quarani; who was given the Mantle of the Prophet; even as Elisha was given the Mantle of Elijah.

For the elders and rulers of Jerusalem in Judah in Jesus’s day the Trial that God set them was whether they would see in Jesus the bridegroom: Issac; and thus to listen to John the Baptist’s voice as Abraham did to the Voice of the Angel in sparing Issac.

Thus the “Test of Allah” for those in Jerusalem who were in the position of Abraham as having the power of “life and death” over the Lamb’s life thus put them into the position in God’s eyes in either sparing the Lamb as Abraham did for Issac at the Altar when he LISTENED to the voice of the Angel; or IGNORING John the Baptist’s Voice who was in this same position of the Angel of the Altar in testifying to the Messiah: and thus “killing” their own global “Issac”; mistaking him for a sacrificial lamb as one representing the Ram or “Substitute of Sacrifice” that was given to Abraham for his Son’s life instead of one representing in truth Issac or the “Son of Mercy” himself.

This was the Test of faith: this was the Test of Allah

This is what Muhammed healed in his ascension over Zion; Mt. Moriah. He was given the land of the Kingdom the Jews killed the Heir to have: and which they lost until 1947; 30 years or a month after 1917; Fatimah. Here we return to it yet once again; always the Widow untill she Triumphs: and the Veil falls forever: Eve restored; naked and unashamed.

Thus was the “Blessed Olive Tree” who Muhammed spoke of in the “Verse of Light” which contains the Essence or Baraka of Sufism; for Jesus of Nazareth is this Blessed Olive Tree Muhammed spoke of: as the Guide who brought Gabriel to him. Few know why Muhammed is the 100th Name of God: it means “The Praised One”; the Standard of Righteousness.

Muhammed became the next “Heir of Abraham” from he was slain standing as Issac the Bridegroom; unseen by those who ignored John and killed Jesus like the ram of the Altar seen in the Cross.Israel’s rulers in Judah failed this test; thus the Curse fell upon them that went back all the way to Moses; and which the second “last prophet” Malachi ( the first “last prophet” was Enoch; Muhammed was the “third” or “final” Last Prophet ) warned them about for this very reason when he told Israel of Elijah and the Sun of Righteousness who were to come 430 years after his prophecy; just as Moses arrived 430 years after Abraham failed at the Altar in separating the Dove and the Pigeon; the Dove representing the seed of Issac; and the Pigeon representing the seed of Ishmael.

But let us look closer at the origin of the Qur’an and the Seal of the Prophets that have congress with Gabriel, the Voice of God; as those who travel in the Prescence always bring.

What was this curse?  

It was the one promised by Moses to fall upon Israel if they did not “listen to the voice” of the one Moses said God would raise up later “like unto myself” in the Last Days; and for Israel the “Last Days” facing them and their City were that of the events which came about at the advent of Lord Jesus and John his messenger. Thus what Israel was facing when John and Jesus arrived was a Test of Faith; a trial by fire; to separate the “quick” in their “recognition” from the “dead” in their “unrecognition”.

Let us examine this battlefield more closely; littered with the debris of the standards and history of God’s Providence hid underneath the claims to God’s Will all three have trumpeted over the centuries.

.AThe Hidden God of Israel

       In response to the Mormons from the Forum at Beliefnet I have added this post to those who are at other forums and areas of spiritual study: but the Time is indeed at hand.

     Let us start at chapter 13 of the Revelation of St. John the Divine.

At 13:1 you will read a description of a beast that John saw rising out the sea that has the HEAD of a Lion; the BODY of a Leopard; and the FEET of a Bear.

         Now let us look at Daniel 7:12; where Daniel describes THREE seperate beasts going “into the sea” whose lives were “preserved; for a TIME and A SEASON”.

The 3 beasts that Daniel saw go into the sea represented 3 Empires; the beast with the Head of the Lion represented the Kingdom of Babylon; and the beast who was the Feet of the Bear represented the Kingdom of Medo-Persia; and the beast with the Body of a Leopard represented the Kingdom of Greece.

        In 1936 this “beast” that John saw come ourt of the Sea of Time thus represented a “three-in-one” creature as the Beast known as the “Axis”; which was composed of the nation of Japan; the nation of Germany; and the nation of Italy.

When the angel of John the Revelator who is mentioned in the book of Mormon at I Nephi 14:18,19,20,21 and especially at I Nephi 14:22 came to me he instructed me as to the reality of the “3-in-one” creature of the Revelation from the Sea of Time as the 3 Nations we knew as “the Axis”; and that Japan had the “Head’ of the Lion which represented Babylon originally; that Germany with the “Body” of the Leopard which represented Greece originally; and that Italy was that “Feet” of the Bear which represented Medo-Persia originally.

        This came forth at 1936; but the Angel of John describes the Axis first ahead of the False Prophet; and the reason he did this is that the Dragon with 7 heads and 10 horns he had just described in Chapter 12 of the Revelation could be seen to be the “progenitor” of this beast with the identical 7 heads and 10 horns as of the Dragon; as “Canaan” resembled “Ham” his father; for Ham is the father of the Hamitic Race; which became Egypt; even as “Canaan” was that of the 7 Nation / 10 tribe Confederacy which faced Israel when it came out of Egypt to make it’s way to the Promised Land; as the “son” or “child” of “Egypt” which Israel despoiled; just as it first despoiled Egypt of it’s gold and wealth when it left Egypt originally.

         The Axis thus represents the “Global Canaan”; of which the 3 Nations of the Allies faced and defeated in 1945; which is where we come to the Second Beast which came out of the Earth; the “ground” of dialectical materialism which Karl Marx as the False Prophet created as what became “Marxism”, which came forth in 1917; BEFORE the “AXIS” proper; yet the “shadow” of the Axis came forth in 1914 at World War I.

         Marxism now has it’s current “Creature” or “Kingdom” the “Scarlet Beast” we know of today as “Red China”; seen at chapter 17 of the Revelation of John the Divine carrying the “Harlot” which represents Capitalism herself; as the Angel of John the Revelator explained it to me.

          Let us look at the “Global Balaam” which the False Prophet represnts as the “Image” of Karl Marx projected at the “Global Level”; for there is no doubt that the 70 years of Russia’s Captivity under the False Prophet represnts the “70 year period of it’s Babylonian Captivity” which Judah once suffered; from 1917 until 1987; 1,000 years after Russia converted in 987; 1987 being when Reagan gave his ultimatum to “tear down this wall”; which happened within a few months afterwards: but it fell then; believe me.

         In my post above I explain the significance of the 2 horns of this creature which “appears” as a lamb: but which “speaks” as a “dragon”; but let us first look at the 2 horns of the “False Prophet”.

         These 2 horns being those of “impure communism”; and “impure socialism” which Karl Marx “stole” from the First Church at Jerusalem which appeared in Jerusalem at “Pentecost”.

        At Pentecost these “two First Principles” of the First Church were manifest as seen at Acts; with Peter as the First Shepherd of the 7 Churches taking bold and decisive actions in the Holy Spirit; which I will describe following..

         First of all the new faithful sheep of as the first Pentecostal Converts sold their property and goods and put it all at the feet of the 12 Apostle’s: this was “pure Communism”; as all PRIVATE property was therefore “the New Church’s” property; the 2 who sold what they had and kept SOME FOR THEMSELVES both DIED. Thus the “pure communism” was the First Principle of the First Church; where all gave what they had to “the 12 Apostle’s” for “the Church”.

         Secondly, Peter then took the goods and then divided them in their dispersion as follows:

   First he took care of the Old and the Sick;

    Second he then he took care of the Widows and the Orphans:

    Thirdly he took care of the Poor:

   and Fourth or Lastly he took care of the 12 Apostle’s and himself last of all.

      This was “pure Socialism”; as the Community was then taken care of as the Second Principle of the First Church: and these 2 Principle’s are what Karl Marx as the “False Prophet” stole as creating the “form” of the Kingdom of God WITHOUT GOD: which is why this “lamb” speaketh as a “Dragon”; the “language” being the philosophy of Atheism; developed by Marx and Engels later in the “Communist Manifesto” which Lenin and Trotsky refined even firther into the antichristian “hammer” it was used as for the next 70 years of Russia’s Babylonian Captivity from 1917 until 1987.

       If you think that “Marxism” as a Global Balaam no more then I suggest you take a long hard look at Cuba; and Red China; and Vietnam; and even the Marxist version of Hezbollah in Lebanon; not to mention the former regimes in Itlay and France which to this day still use these ideologies in their political character in diverse forms.

    In shewing you these things I would hope you would realize that as “hard” as this might be to understand for some of the more conservative Mormons it is the Veritable Truth; in other words: the Word of God that Joseph Smith knew would one day come out; as he wrote in 1823; 100 years before Rev. Moon and John Paul II were born; both in 1920; the Pope being called Karl Wojytla in that time.

    I know that this all might seem “too much” to bear; but this is the Last Day; for the last 21 years when I was given the knowledge which became the book I have written I was given the Seal of the Living God to uncover the Truth of the Revelation; because these are the Last Days.

  Let us take a look at the Antichrist: Osama bin Laden; the one in the West that no one wants to point out as being the “Man of Lawlessness” mentioned II Thessalonians 2:2-5; of which the full quote can be read above;

                            The Man of Lawlessness

 And the Antichrist? Take another look at our old dear now dead friend: Osama bin Laden; a devil with the Devil in him; the Cosmic Judas himself.

Yet he must be tudied to see how the Last Day did finally arrive; that “Day of Christ” as the “Day of Justice” that Mary as the Zion of the Holy One of Israel told Sister Princess Faustina all about; Sister Princess Faustina knew Zion as the Mother of Jesus. But she knew the Lamb as the Mercy of God Incarnate; and my servant John had me learn all about her because I found all he taught me and all I dicovered to have been discovered by her before I was even born. But it comforted me that I was not alone in what I had discovered of he who was indeed the Mercy of God in the flesh who they killed: and wondered why they could then no mercy from God for themselves as they later burned in ovens!!! 

As she told me;

 “…As God’s Mercy is our Salvation; so then was His Son our Saviour….”

If anyone could have said it better than that I would love to hear it.

If one looks at II Thessalonians 2:2-4 and reads these words; to wit:

                 “Let no one deceive you by any means;  for that Day will not come unless

 the falling away comes first,

 and the man of sin is revealed,

 the son of perdition,

 who opposes and exalts himself above all

 that is called God or that is worshipped,

 so that he sits as God in the House of God,

 showing himself that he is God.”

Osama bin Laden is the “fatted calf” who my Father Jesus on the Throne of God had his servant Barack Hussein Obama kill with the Zulfiqar of “Husayn/ Hussein” when I returned to my Father’s House as the Prodigal Son who was “lost”.

Even as “My Generation” of “Ephraim” as that “Silly Dove”; Osama as the Son of Perdition at the individual level is the one who is killed by the Father at the return of the “lost sheep of Israel” known as the “one” who said he would not go: but then repented: and went; My Generation as Ephraim, collectively and Solomon, as the Son of David; individually.

 It is the return of the Prodigal Son which signals the end of the Antichrist; his days are now over, as they were numbered right when he picked up God’s sword; got on the pale yellow horse of the Spirit of Vengeance ( which Death stole to kill the Lamb unjustly for the Original Sin that he didn’t commit since he died a virgin ); and rode off to gather those deluded souls to follow him whom he convinced he was the Mahdi; and all who followed him did not see the name “Kafir” on his forehead; few even today can see it; because they are all unbelievers.

 But as the Child of the Resurrection who rose from the dead I saw it clearly and became the Wrath of the Lamb; the Last Child of the Resurrection of those who “did not marry; nor were they given in marriage”; as Rev. Moon slew all the rest by getting them to marry and thus disqualify themselves from attaining the resurrection from the dead.

And then to becaome “equal to the angels” through the “Death in Christ” for thosse virgins redeemed from the earth. I was the only one left who gave up sex entirely and sealed the seed as that “white stone” in my body which is the “Word of his Patience”.

The clouds are then those called to become “Priests forever; after the Order of Melchizedek”; which is the Original Priesthood of those consecrated by God and His Christ at the Altar first as Brides; and then to the Throne as Wives.  The “eunuchs for the Kingdom of heaven’s sake” are then the “clouds” on which he comes. My husband; Christ Jesus who alone comes in the Name of Jesus Christ as all who I will Seal with the Seal of the Living God shall find.

 Why didn’t Rev. Moon see that Osama bin Laden was the one with “Kafir” written on his forehead as the Antichrist Sayed Hisham Kabbani warned the West about? Perhaps Moon had drunk too much of his own “MOONSHINE” and was too busy having himself crowned “King of the Universe” or some such title in Washington DC; like Napoleon when he had them crown him Emperor; and then seat down and glared at everyone; until everyone left the room.

Sad day for the little Corsican corporal.

Yet in all his Terror it is Osama bin Laden of whom my Father Lord Jesus spoke of when he said; to wit;

  ”Whoso lives by the sword: shall die with it”.

 Needless to say the description St. Paul gives of the one who “judged” the West as if he were God and then “carried out” this “Judgment” on 9/11 as then “once again” as if he were “God” is frightenly accurate; as spiritually Osama is indeed the one described by St. Paulas being the one upon “stting and judging” as on the Islamic ”throne” of Mecca: the “House/Temple” of God.

  This is all quite straightforward. 

   Today it is “politically incorrect” to call “a spade a spade”; but to say that Osama bin Laden is the “man of Lawlessness” as the Global Terrorist himself is not a matter of being “polite” or “politically correct”; it is the Veritable Truth; that is; the Word of God.

            If all this is unclear then I will make it clearer to you; or perhaps you can bring someone to this post who does know of what is written in Book of Mormon concerning “the Jew” mentioned in I Nephi 14:22 where it was foretold exactly what would happen: for it has indeed happened as the Prophet Joseph Smith said.

          Furthermore John the Revelator is truly not dead: as his pen is still upon the page on Patmos: in other words he is “now seeing” the events of our Day while STILL ALIVE: which means that through the “OPEN DOOR” that is “OPENED” between us I can communicate with John as he “lives and breathes” even now: this is the “Regeneration” of which the Lord Jesus spoke; for John the Revelator will indeed NEVER DIE: as Time will End before that happens; for this is the Last Day.

        But I know this will be hard for most of you to understand; but Joseph Smith spent no little time in trying to see why John the Beloved would indeed never die; as my Father Lord Jesus said to Peter.

         As Mormons I hope you will all take what I say to heart;

and I look forward to speaking to all of  you again; as the Time is at Hand..

           the Child of the Resurrection is the Wrath of the Lamb

         The Mormon church is the 6th of the 7 churches of the True Vine; as I write in my book: “A City Not Forsaken”; the 7 churches  (of which the 7 Paul built were the blueprint of the entire spread of Christianity to come as the “Holy Mountain”)  stretch from Jerusalem with Peter as the first shepherd at the Pentecostal Church all the way to Korea; at the 7th Church: but due to the fall of the 7th church I started the New Church of New Hope to lay the Foundation of Salvation for the Kingdom of God here in America at the 50 States.

    Not only has the 6th church of the True Vine as the Church of the Living God is thus the one which foretold of mine angel: that of John the Revelator whom Joseph Smith spoke of: the “Jew”; it is he who taught me.

As the Magi to were to Jesus and His Generation:

so the Sufis were to me: and My Generation

 He is written of in the book of Mormon: at I Nephi 14:22; John the Revelator; who Joseph the 6th shepherd of the Church of the Living God saw. That was it’s “Vision” as of the Vision of the 6th Church; what I cal “The Archaic Branch”; and this is why the 6th church is not told to repent as the 5 of the 7 are: only the 2nd and the 6th have no mention of having to repent that Lord Jesus says of at Revelation chapter two and three that are the Testimony of Jesus in Revelation.

            Thus Joseph Smith wrote of my Father’s servant John whom He sent to help me; which no one foresaw; thus of my servant John it is said by him in my book this:

             “Behold: I come as a Thief”

      Thus saith the Mercy of the Lion: the Root of David:

                 the Child of the Resurrection

As the Magi to were to Jesus and His Generation:

 so the Sufis were to me: and My Generation

 The 6th Star of Enoch in the Hand of the Amen:  the Faithful and True Witness

 The Mormon church is the 6th of the 7 churches of the True Vine; as I write in my book: “A City Not Forsaken”; the 7 churches  (of which the 7 Paul built were the blueprint of the entire spread of Christianity to come as the “Holy Mountain”)  stretch from Jerusalem with Peter as the first shepherd at the Pentecostal Church all the way to Korea; at the 7th Church: but due to the fall of the 7th church I started the New Church of New Hope to lay the Foundation of Salvation for the Kingdom of God here in America at the 50 States.

  Not only has the 6th church of the True Vine as the Church of the Living God is thus the one which foretold of mine angel: that of John the Revelator whom Joseph Smith spoke of: the “Jew”; it is he who taught me.

  He is written of in the book of Mormon: at I Nephi 14:22; John the Revelator; who Joseph the 6th shepherd of the Church of the Living God saw. That was it’s “Vision” as of the Vision of the 6th Church; what I cal “The Archaic Branch”; and this is why the 6th church is not told to repent as the 5 of the 7 are: only the 2nd and the 6th have no mention of having to repent that my Father Lord Jesus says of at Revelation chapter two and three that are the Testimony of Jesus in Revelation.

 Thus Joseph Smith wrote of my Father’s servant John whom He sent to help me; which no one foresaw; thus of my servant John it is said by him in my book this:

             “Behold: I come as a Thief”

For there are two: as of the prophets of the Hopi.

          The Mercy of the Lion: the Root of David, as the Mercy of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah; seen at the Blue Sun of the Regeneration was was formerly the Morning Star: the Comet Holmes; the “Blue Star” of the Hopi; as of the 7 year cycle; around the sun every 7 years: the number of years it takes for the human body to replace every cell; the Cycle of Regeneration: as of the Morning Star of Eliakim.

           And “the Rod” of the Testimony of Jesus: the Spirit of Prophecy; even as the Child of the Resurrection is “the Cloud”: on which sits the Son of Man.

     And then the Vengeance of Jehovah as that of the “Red Star”: Mira; 418 Light Years away; is the one as of the Wrath of the Lamb, the Offspring of David; having a Tail 13 lightyears long: for the 12 Apostle’s of the Lamb, The Red Star of His Vengeance as the Wrath of the Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World: the 12 and the One; the 13 itself; these are some of the signs in the stars.  

          For their 12 thrones are then each a “lightyear” itself; the 12 Stars of the Crown of Mary of Bethhlehem: of chapter 12 of the Revelation of St. John the Divine.

                  

The Crown of Glory

   Mary of Bethany.                     

          For it is the Child of the Resurrection;

                  and the Spirit of Prophecy.

      The change that comes is then where the Spirit of Prophecy begins to manifest the changes which attend the Opening of the Book of Life of the Lamb; as seen in the Mormon Church, as the sixth church of the Church of the Living God; and the Unification Church; the seventh; the Archaic branch and the Sufic branch respectively.

Gabriel is the Voice of God

 To end the conflict between the supposedly spiritual east and the apparently materialistic west with the unrepentant middle ground of Judaism

The advent of the 2 men in the position of a “green tree” as was Ezekiel and one as a “dry tree” as was Daniel;  for the green tree we have the married man Rev. Moon after 40 years being married in 1960; 40 years from his birth in 1920; and then another who would also change world history: Karl Wojytla; who became Pope John Paul II; being in the position of a “dry tree” as unmarried; and both men having global missions; the Pope erasing the barrier between the East and West at the Fall of the Berlin Wall; and Rev. Moon supposed to have done the same at Korea; at the barrier between the North and the South by removing the DMZ of the Truce by which the Korean War is not over: but is only stopped for a “short season”.

    This is my Cross; and I reveal here today; for only half has been done: and now Korea has shifted from Global Nation in the perfection of the Evil of Kim IL Sung to Cosmic World in the perfection of the Evil of Kim Jong II: North Korea and it’s Wall is actually the battleground and the Gate; the Satanic barrier between Heaven and Earth itself: the Gates of Hell; for with Rev. Moon gaving fallen as that “evil servant” the whole Yellow Race as the “Elder Brother” is fallen all over again as in the days of Adam; one fouth of the earth under the sway of Death; an entire race of the original four “men” that made up the original Adam of Universal Man.

             This is “hidden”; and thus discarnate “psychic / magnetic” pull; as a “center” money is a “fallen and wandering star”; a black hole; the bigger the amount; the larrger the attraction: of nothing.; just your own mental consent that paper and rocks and stones are valuable: this is the Mark in the forehead: enslaved to matter; as Materialism; both Rich and Poor; one in an artificial heaven; but real enough; and the other is an artificial hell: but real enough to be untold suffering and misery for thousands for ever: as in India’s caste system: thus having for their society the Vine of the Earth Itself: the Rod of the Assyrian; the Love of which is the Root of all Evil: Adam and Eve as the “gold and silver” of the Devil himself

The Cross of Christ Jesus the Last

Part II: Genesis and the Dance of God

 It is written of God in Genesis that “He Moved” upon “the face of the waters”; thus it reveals He made Love with the Deep “Face-to-face” and dispelled the darkness which was the Nightmare that had entered into her Great Dream from which He rescued her; the point at which God intervened before her son becomes her lover who she then devours.

 In Truth it’s a very old story. And it’s continuation is seen in the revelation that Adam had when God took Eve from the Side of Adam in his Dreamk; as the creation from the Light of Day.

The fact and the sign of this special relationship God has with His Servants is that  Moses when he came down from Mount Sinai the second time put on the Veil and we then hear the term whereby he is titled “meek above all the men that were upon the earth”; and thus was called “the servant of God”,

It is because His servants are likened to “His wives” as his “partners”; thus Moses was really the “wife of Jehovah”; having a voice that was strangely high pitched like that of a bird, and besides that he is said to have had a painful stammer whicis why he asked for someone to “speak for him”; which turned out to be: Aaron his brother.

That Moses stuttered terribly for some reason beyond a mental block as a fact noted with some understanding by Eilberg Schwartz in his challenging and logomythic book “God’s Pahallus” ( subtitled“And Other Problems For Men And Monotheism” ) in the chapter where he discusses the encounter Moses and his wife have with Jehovah when the Lord comes to kill Moses and a propitiation is made: by Moses’ wife to Moses’  jealous husband who is Jehovah; the Holy Spirit of God Almighty: a situation that is far more complicated than it first seems in the long overdue explanation of why Jehovah would suddenly want to kill his prophet.

It seems the Holy Spirit was not going to share Moses with another woman; so she had to become His wife then and there as well: which she then accepted so her husband would live; calling Jehovah a “Bridegroom of blood”; a curious phrase of one losing her virginity as well in a sense with the circumcision of the couple’s son.

The subject we have to look at with the revealing of the 144,000 men who are the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife is simply this: the rightful appelation and appropriation of the name of Mary; for it is that blesed name which becomes the battleground which finally is resolved by the appearence of the Lake of Fire; the Lamb’s Wife.

It is she who is married to the Sun of Righteousness but this Sun is called “The Sun of Jehovah Our Righteousness”; where the two are made one flesh: and thus where he upon the Great White Throne is seen as having been with she where the beast and the false Prophet were first discovered; she who knows the name of the Rider on the White Horse given to her by he who sits upon the White Horse: the Second Death; a name that he has that no man knoweth; except for his wife; OF COURSE; for that is how  “The Word of God” came to her in the first place; for it was only in the Act with for the Virgins is the Death in Christ that the Name of the Lover is known: Christ Jesus; “Day Light”; that name which is the Light of Life itself for those given the Light; just as God did for the Deep when first He enlightened her in the Act of God; which is, after all; the Act of Love: the Performance of the Making; the Dance of the Creator.

As He made the 7 days of Creation; from the Light of the 7 fold Day: as when He made heaven and earth: the Soul and the Body of Eve respectively

 To find the hidden ground between the two religious spheres and how Islam was given the “Baraka” or Blessing of God that had rested on the first Israel before they killed the Lamb in the position of Issac as the Bridegroom can only be seen in the hidden relationship of the Second Israel of the Desert Tribes to that of the First 12 Tribes.

This is plainly seen in the shifting of the “Baraka” to “the friend of the Bridegroom” or Mohammed / Ishmael or the “brother” of “the Bridegroom” or Jesus / Issac who died in the position of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World. 

Thus Mohammed stood as the Envoy of Moses to deliver his Curse upon they who did not listen to my Father Lord Jesus as Moses told them they better do or suffer the consequences, Thus Islam and Enthroned Mecca were given the Kingdom from the former Israel and Dethroned Jerusalem: that Promise of Moses and the Law and that foursquare warning he gave the Jews who came out of Egypt to the Promised Land the Lord God originally gave to Abraham and his obedient heirs.

 In their origin in Abraham Islam has always claimed that it brought nothing new to the earth but the original religion of Abraham; but Ishmael came from Abrahm; not Abraham; thus the iconoclastic nature of Islam has more to do with the idol-maker who was Abrahm’s own father; only then he was not called Abraham: he was called “Abram”.

Yet to see Muhammed we have to see the son of Terrah the idol-maker; and a son breaking away from his father the idolater cultivator. It is in this vein that one must approach the secret of Muhammed; and in this article the Day has become sufficiently visible to unveil this secret as the beginning of the healing of the nations; which originates in the leaves of the Tree of Life that currently reside in the pages of the Book of Life; for the names written in the Book’s pages are the fruits from the Tree’s leaves.

In breaking away from the idol-strewn Courtyard of the Kaa’ba after he cut down the 360 idols ( for the 12 desert tribes followed the lunar calender, not the solar one ) which stood there it is Muhammed in his singleminded following of God that shows us why Islam has a complete rejection of the idolization of Jesus by the Christians and Moses by the Jews; but this discloses another facet which few have noticed: the story in the Qur’an where Iblis would not worship Adam.

 The figure of Iblis thus did not obey the Will of God; claiming that he would not break the first commandment to worship nothing but God. But he disobeyed this direct order by claiming the Love of God as his higher reason or Cause by which he exalted the end in God’s first command to worship “nothing but Him”. The Sufis have always recounted this story in explaining the nature of Satan is that of a jealous lover of God; which most people don’t even think of when dealing with all the disinformation about the reality of God’s true relationship with the one who betrayed Him by breaking the Truce when God rested on the 7th day.

 This was the reason that Iblis did not worship Adam: but it is also the reason that Muhammed would not worship Jesus; even if God had told him told him to; but this was because as the Messenger he stood in relation to the Messiah that John had stood to Jesus; his own Voice; as Aaron was to Moses, and John Baptist was to have been to Jesus Christ; the “voice” crying in the wilderness given to speak for the Word made flesh.

 The Sufis are well aware of this; but what mankind has not been aware of is this: the host of the “high ones on high” of the angels that get judged at the end are they who suffered exile and disgrace in being cast out of their positions as that third of the host which would not worship the Image of God are they which are that host of the high ones on high who actively sustain that Name of JEHOVAH that is “JEALOUS”: they both have SEVEN  Letters in these two names for a substantial REASON.

 Hallaj al-Mansur knew of this when he wrote of Iblis on Mt. Sinai; a well-known work.

 The host of the high ones on high are then the jealous angels; it is them who inhabit “The Name of God which is Jealous”; and they pursue all who claim relationship with God in any form; for they claim a Love by which lucifer thought he could “ascend on the mountains of the North” even above the Throne of God; thus in claiming higher principles than God; or at least in obeying higher principles than the other more simple angels.

But of course this claim was false; for Iblis did not disobey God from any real love; what we are seeing is a being trying to exalt himself above God Himself.

 This will; of course, involve whoever reads these words in the fate of the angels who rebelled; for now one will know of them; and not just have them know of us in ignorance of their actual form in the heavens: they who are jealous of Adam in his relationship as the Son of God to God; which the Archangel of God found was greater than God’s love for him.

In these two almost Identical Stars we see the nature of the Conflict between the first two sons of God; that which we see later between Cain and Abel; for the star which appears as the Sun is thus the Son which is closer to God than the Star; which is another Sun at a further distance from God’s Heart; or rather in it; the Son being closer to the Center of God’s Heart as the Center of His Affection than the Archangel; who was farther from the Center; being the Servant; a Star; not the Son: the position of the Day itself; which is why the Archangel is the Day-Star. It is this knowledge which the Mormon Church and also Rev. Moon about the relationship between the Archangel and Adam as that between “two brothers” in a way.

Of course; I do have the Ear by which the Voice of God or “Gabriel” is heard; and few will like to hear this; of course. As the Wrath of the Lamb who is the New Word of Allah have I become too much of a threat to the nations after gaining the Rod of iron and the morning Star at the fourth overcoming as I walked the 4th step to becoming the Path of the Just as the Lamb’s Wife . Remember Balaam said “I see a Star arising out of Jacob; and a Rod / Scepter out of Israel”; as are then seen at the 4th church itself, as the Rod of Iron and the Morning Star.

             The Three of Ophiuchus

The 13th Sign of the Zodiac                        

The Glyph of Seth:                                                

The Ancient Controversy of Muhammed and Iblis, and the End of the Matter;

Thus the angels who followed Iblis at the Fall are the origin of racism: of that where the angels thought man should serve them permanently; and not have angels serve man.

This is what is hidden in the Qur’an; the ancient controversy between the angels and man: and then Islam and Christ.

The host one thus hears in the Qur’an is the voice of the host of the high ones “on high”; for in killing Jesus these rebel angels had the final justification for not worshipping Adam at the beginning that they claimed man was inferior.

Thus they claimed in sight of the other obedient angels that men were inherently inferior to angels, and thus Adam was not worthy to be worshipped: what had really happened to the Lamb was in their eyes the event that proved all along that they were really the “Elect” who had “seen through” this “test” of God which he had placed before them at the Beginning to wprship Adam that one time.

What then occured is that this host now informed the other angels that God had “tempted” them by first giving them the commandment to worship no one than Him: and then later commanding them to worship Adam; which contradicted the first commandment.

And they had “triumphed” over His Test; and thus were “holy” and “more perfect” than any of the other angels. Which was, of course, Pride, which became Lucifer; their own emanation….

Rotten to the Core.

They didn’t listen and thus Israel was given the full curse of a Mercliess God that was their own Self: blind and pitiless; for God had now turned away His face from them. What they were given was later seen in the sword of Mohammed who carried out the start of this Curse of Moses; the “sword drawn out after them” was the sword of “Anti-Semetism”. And they know it.

 Or should;

….. it was the “Day cruel with wrath, burning like an Oven“.

Sound familiar?

This is what happens in the Qur’an: the broken sentences of a broken-hearted God; the Host which now speaks for him says this by the Voice of God in the pages of the Qur’an…

“……God forbid that He should have a Son!……”

“…..That men would have treated him the way my trusted servants did ! ! ……”

This is and was the “true” Curse of Allah.

 For in not hearing the whole sentence men never knew the whole truth of the broken heart of God: for the 7 Vials of Wrath are they which held the Tears of God.

The Cross of Jerusalem; when the City of St. Francis became the New Mecca; as Mecca had once become the New Jerusalem: even as Jerusalem was the New Salem…this is my cross as of “A City Not Forsaken”; that Holy Jerusalem as the Third Israel’s “New Jerusalem”

]]> http://discordsanarchy.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/emotions-in-gaming-part-2/ Wed, 21 Nov 2012 05:13:19 +0000 videowolff http://discordsanarchy.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/emotions-in-gaming-part-2/ The emotional value that a video game can provide onto us can be the difference between a mediocre experience or an experience we shall never forget. Let us explore some more video games and the emotions that they create.

Culprit: BurnOut Revenge

Genre: Racing-Crash-A-Thon

Emotion Generated: Excitement

Quote: “MORE SPEED! MORE SPEED!”

BurnOut Revenge for the Xbox 360 is more than just a port of the PS2 title. It has been given a total face-life with improved lighting, sharper textures, more detailed battle damage, and most importantly enchanced particle effects. Thanks to the difference of power between the PS2 and the 360 version, we get sucked into a whirlpool of speed and destruction that very few games are able to reproduce. The intensity that this game provides is enough to get your blood pumping. You will soon find yourself on the edge of your seat as you race through city-streets as  the other cars work to smash you off the road (as you attempt to do the same).

As the timers tick down and the other racers’ ferocity increases, you will soon find yourself leaning left and right as if moving your body in sync with your car would increase the damage you deal to other racers. In fact, the ferocity of the game is so intense, the excitement provided so fierce, that you may begin to a sharp pain in your thumb as you unconsciously push down upon the Boost button harder and harder while trying to increase your car’s speed. The excitement this game creates is unlike any other and is truly a memorable experience.

Culprit: El Shaddai

Genre: Religious Hack N Slash

Emotion Generated: Confusion

Quote: “Is…what…why…huh?”

The artistic acid-trip that is El Shaddai may not be a top selling title, but it is easily one of the few games this generation people will not forget. The Cell-shaded, colorful world of El Shaddai may be enough to catch the eyes of some gamers but when you combine the Hack-N-Slash game play with Biblical Mythology, you have yourself a very unique experience.

However it is not the art style nor the combat that makes the game so unusual but the storyline itself. As I said, it uses Biblical Mythology but in a way that is rather confusing. It is hard to explain the storyline but the basic gist is that you are hunting down rogue angels who – from what I understand – are trying to flood the Earth in order to destroy mankind. The problem is that the narrative and the gameplay is presented to the player in such a disjointed way that you are never one hundred percent sure if you are progressing through the story properly.

For example; when you first meet some of the ArchAngels, you will either get your butt handed to you, or you may squeak by and defeat them. Either way, the game continues. You have no idea what is scripted and what isn’t. As the game carries on, more and more of these instances occur leaving you sitting upon the couch while scratching your head in utter confusion. A great game indeed, but a rather mind-boggling one indeed.

Culprit: Aquanaut’s Holidy

Genre: Sci-Fi Ocean Exploration

Emotion Generated: Wonderment

Quote: “I cannot believe what I am seeing…”

There is a strong chance that you have not heard of this game for it was only released in Asia and in limited quantities. If you are lucky enough to find an English copy of this game it may cost you upwards over 100 USD. (I paid 150$ for mine) but it is a pricetag worth spending.

Aquanaut’s Holiday may at first feel like an underwater version of Afrika or Pokemon Snap, or moreso a clone of the Wii’s game Deep Blue Ocean, but this game goes so much further than just taking photos of undersea life. You are looking for your lost friend and during your search you must investigate the wildlife and the environment of this cove. As you progress through the game you will discover sunken cities, fish that can communicate through singing, sunken pirate ships, and even planets (not kidding).

The atmosphere of the game will submerse you into this strange sense of wonderment and awe as you play. You will become entranced with the environments, the eerie mythology, and the sea critters that swim all around your tiny submarine. You may be focusing so much on this undersea world that you may even freeze in fear as a Megalodon Shark swims quietly overhead or you may feel your blood turn to ice as a Kraken (Colossal Squid) sneaks just out of view.

From the depths of the ocean floor where the only lightsource is your sub’s flood light to the vast emptiness of the Abyss; you will not stop feeling this sense of wonderment. There may even be a time where you start feeling as if you are in the sub yourself as you shrink back against your couch as massive whales swim past your view screen.

A truly magnificent game that sucks you into this world of pure wonderment, it’s a shame it never was given a international release.

The key to knowing God’s voice is not a formula. It is not a method you can follow. Knowing God’s voice comes from an intimate love relationship with God. That is why those who do not have the relationship (“do not belong to God”) do not hear what God is saying (John 8:47). You are going to have to watch to see how God uniquely communicates with you. You will not have any other crutch. You will have to depend on God alone. Your relationship to Him is of utomost importance.

The Key to Knowing God’s Voice: A Love Relationship

An intimate love relationship with God is the key to knowing God’s voice, to hearing when God speaks. You come to know His voice as you experience Him in a love relationship. As God speaks and you respond, you will come to the point that you recognize His voice more and more clearly. Some look for a miraculous sign or try to depend on a “formula” or a set of steps to discover God’s will. No substitute, however, exists for the intimate relationship with God. God does not want you to become an expert at using a formula. He wants an intimate relationship with you. He wants you to depend on Him alone. Hearing God does not depend on a method or formula but a relationship.
You may ask, “Can’t I get a word from God?” Yes, you can! But only the Holy Spirit of God can reveal to you which truth of His word in a particular circumstance. Even if someone’s circumstance is similar to yours, only God can reveal His word for your circumstance.

Because of all of our sin when we came into this world, “There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Roman 3:11-12). We cannot know and understand spiritual truth apart from the activity of God Himself in our lives. (It begins with God who initiates) Spiritual truths can be revealed Only by God ((2-way communication, not 1-way: He speaks and instructs, you must respond in what He speaks and do what He says. ))

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God… no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given us. (Cor. 2:9-12)

The Holy Spirit has the assignment of revealing spiritual truth to believers. The Holy Spirit is called the “Spirit of Truth” (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). Jesus said the Holy Spirit would “teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26). “He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears (from Father/God) He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (I challeng you to review what you sense God has been saying to you on a regular basis. If God speaks and you hear but do not respond, a time could come when you will not hear His voice.)

….

God Gives Specific Directions

A popular teaching says God does not give you clear directives. It says He just sets your life in motion. Then you try to figure out the directions using your God-given mind. This implies that a Christian always thinks correctly and according to God’s will. This does not take into account that the old nature is constantly battling with the spiritual nature (see Roman 7). Our ways are not God’s ways (see Isa. 55:8). Only God can give you the kind of specific directions to accomplish His purposes in His ways.

After God spoke to Noah about building an ark. Noah knew the size, the type of materials, and how to put it together. When God spoke to Moses about building the tabernacle, He was very specific about the details. When God became flesh in thePersons of Jesus Christ, He gave specific direcitons to His disciples — where to go, what to do, how to respond.

What about when God called Abraham (Abram) and said, “Get to a land that I will show you” (Gen. 12:1)? That was not very specific. That required faith. But God did say, “I will show you.” God always will give you enough specific directions to do now what He wants you to do. When you need more directions, He gives you more in His timing. In Abraham’s case, God later told him about the son to be born to him, the number of his descendants, the territory they would inhabit, and that they would go into bondage and be brought out.

The Holy Spirit gives clear directives today. God is personal. He wants to be intimately involved in your life. He will give you clear guidance for living. You may say, “That has not been my experience.” You need to bring your experience up to the Word of God and not lower God’s ways to match your experience.

If you do not have clear instructions from God in a matter, pray and wait. Learn patience. Depend on God’s timing. His timing is always right and best. Don’t get in a hurry. He may be withholding directions to cause you to seek Him more intently. Don’t try to skip over the relationship to get on with doing. God is more interested in a love relationship with you than He is in what you can do for Him.

Frequently I am asked, “How can I know whether the word I receive is from God, my own selfish desires, or Satan?” Some people go to much trouble studying Satan’s ways so they can identify when something appears to be a deception of Satan. I don’t do that. I am determined not to focus on Satan. He is already defeated on Calvary (through the death and the resurrection of Christ). The One who is guiding me, the One who is presently implementing His will through me, is the Victor. The only way Satan can affect God’s work through me is when I believe Satan and disbelieve God. Satan always will try to deceive you. Satan cannot ultimately thwart what God purposes to do.

- 神を体験する （EXPERIENCING GOD) – Henry Blackaby

Prayer:

Abba, thanks for responding to my brief prayer today, when I was driving. It really wasn’t a prayer but a thought that came to my mind that what I wished in a flash of that particular moment would happen. I wished for the Sun to appear in a flash of moments from the solid gray sky that was gloomy, with not even one spot of the blue part found in the sky. I don’t remember how I ended up thinking of that. I certainly wasn’t testing You or being weird, but .. it was one quick of a wish-like thought that came to my mind, so..I did..momentarily. Right away, the Sun appeared for three seconds and disappeared into the solid gray sky and never appeared again. My desire to seek for signs and miracles should not replace my desire to live for you in love and and to have the kind of faith you want us to have but to seek a deep intimate love relationship with you as a very primary goal in my spiritual life. I love you and feel your warmth even without asking for miracles or signs. To think about it, I actually didn’t ask you to respond to my thought that just passed through in my mind at that particular moment, wishing for the Sun to appear from the solid grey sky which I think now it actually was impossible to happen according to the natural phenomena and to go away right after that. It may have been You who placed that thought momentarily, as Your word says, ‘whatever imagination or whatever we pray in faith, believe you have received. You did answer to my mumbling-like thought-like prayer right away. I felt your warmth and love. Thank you, Father, for reminding me that You are always ready to communicate with us in such details, if we only take time and believe and how deeply you want to get involved in our life coz you love us. You really are awesome God. You are beautiful, Yeshua, and are worthy to be praised. To take care of my inner self and love myself is actually to love You who is in me that loves me. I feel Your love. love love Ya, God. Dad. Father. Yasha. Adonai, Abba, 神様。

🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻

DARLENE ZSCHECH — HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD – LIVE 2007 — LORD OF ALL – Live praise and worship DVD by Hillsong United. Recorded Sydney, London

Darlene Zschech – ♬♩How Great Is Our God

🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻

♬♩ EL SHADDAI (God in Yeshua) BY AMY GRANT ♬♩

🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻 🔺 🔻

*****

I marvel at how the body of Christ works. So many amazing things have happened that I have not processed them yet. If I were to write something encouraging, it would be that Lifesong is a vital part of what the Lord is doing in this fallen world today.

Our team is here today doing great works for the Lord; educating housemoms and pastors on how to better take care of the orphans, encouraging them to have a vision of discipleship within the orphanages, distributing much needed medical and non-medical supplies, taking care of the sick, encouraging the El Shaddai ministry staff, leading people to Christ, and interceding for Haiti. Needless to say, this is no task for one person—it takes the Body of Christ to do the job. Although our team is in another country, we are Lifesong. We cannot function without the prayer and support from our main framework, our church. As we are the hands, feet and mouthpiece for Christ here in Haiti, the church body needs to keep pumping the blood and nutrients to keep us going. Our group is learning that in order to function well, we need one another. We are trying to live a life worthy of the calling we have received by being humble, gentle, patient, and bearing with one another in love (Eph 4). I believe everyone of us is learning this fact and being stretched to grow in love. And because we are abiding in Christ’s love and His Word, we are producing fruit. God is so good!

Another amazing thing about the Body of Christ is that it is able to do great things globally because it has one task in mind: bringing glory to God by making disciples for Christ. While riding a bike, one foot is pedaling up while the other is pedaling down. It may look like one foot is going opposite direction of the other, but they are functioning to propel the bike. It has been amazing to see how El Shaddai ministry, Lifesong, and Wellsprings Ministry were brought together to accomplish what I feel is a spiritual, historical event for Haiti. Several pastors from all over Haiti, who oversee the El Shaddai orphanages, joined their wives for the housemom training that Wellsprings and Lifesong were facilitating. I believe this is the first time they were able to meet like this and fellowship. The Lord decided to drop them a huge present. The founder of Wellsprings Ministries, Tova Kreps, is an amazing visionary. She brought with her a wealth of knowledge on healing from trauma and much needed sex education. Tova happens to share a passion for orphans as does her mom, Rosemary Jensen. Mrs. Jensen is founder of Rafiki Foundation, which oversees 10 excellent orphanages in Africa (she was also director of BSF for 20 yrs). To keep the story short, the pastors of El Shaddai, who have influence over thousands of Haitian orphans, were given Rafiki’s policies and procedures and hundreds of pages of instruction on orphan care on top of Tova’s material on counseling and trauma care. God is amazing! Haiti has just received 20 years of orphan care work that can excel their orphanages to be like that of Africa’s Rafiki orphanages, or even better! Talk about riding a bike? We are on a BMW motorcycle!It is so exciting to be a part of a healthy, vibrant Body of Christ. May Lifesong continue to grow as we speak the truth in love and grow in every way into Him who is the head, Jesus Christ!

The picture I have inserted is of all the pastors and housemoms that attended the three day training conference. I guess I will end by sharing about one interesting experience in Haiti: sex education! I knew the unexpected might happen in Haiti, but I never knew I would be literally sitting in the middle of a circle of pastors during sex education. (I even recorded these sessions … Tova trusted me enough to film her lectures.)

Keep the blood pumping!

Our first week at St. Ignatius was spent on orientation. The focus wasn’t about house rules but more on spirituality. It was quite a shift for most of us but it wasn’t surprising because the type of spirituality wasn’t what we expected to be. As future diocesan priests we were not being trained to become contemplatives. So the spiritual practices of the fathers of the church weren’t the focus.

At that time the charismatic group El Shaddai was gaining grounds in the Philippines. It was started by a non-Catholic lay leader with a fundamentalist background. Thousands upon thousands of Filipinos were attracted to this type of spirituality that was almost like a cult. Even Catholics were attracted to the group. In my estimation, the group posited a threat to the church that it may lose a lot of its faithful followers to the fold of the charismatics that instead of fighting the group the bishops led them instead and Catholicize the group. I believe that was part of the rationale why such spirituality made it to St. Ignatius.

Prayer meetings weren’t totally foreign to me. My parish had prayer meetings at the church when I was in high school and I used to attend it. But since I went to the seminary, I have not been to any prayer meeting of sorts. You know the type: hand-waving, allellulia-praise-the-Lord screaming and extensively singing, sort of prayer meetings.

It was still summer. The daily prayer meetings were held in the basement of the building of our dormitory, which also doubled as the community’s TV room. About twenty young men in their early twenties, along with the rector, a number of lay leaders from the city, gathered in the dark basement daily. Every day we began our session with extended singing of praise songs. We probably used up the Catholic hymnology. I must admit there was something moving and emotionally appealing to singing praise songs. We warmed up with joyful songs, the ones that would make you clap your hand, shake your head awkwardly, like a thousands jubilant angels were dancing and prancing with you. Then we would wind down with the more emotional types, the ones that invoke the greatness of the Lord, the wonderfulness of the redeemer, the awesomeness of God. We waved our hands in the air as we swayed to these melodic songs with our eyes closed, enraptured in some divine power that heals broken hearts and finds lost souls, forgives the worst sins. We sang songs the made our hearts scream the name of Jesus in a powerful praise. Once such emotion has been stirred, we finished the long singing of praise with extended invocation of the Lord’s power to overcome and slay our sinfulness and let our hearts and souls be born again in his name. Yes, we became born-again Christians of sorts and that was in a span of one week.

For a week Brian and I didn’t get the chance to talk, to evaluate what this new thing meant. But we did a lot of sharing and talking among each other. To be precise our group of twenty was divided into four cell groups, five members each. The cell group was designed in a way that we would act like a support group for one another. Each member of the group was assigned as a spiritual director and a spiritual directee of sort to each other. The spiritual director was called a shepherd while the directee was the sheep. The shepherd was supposed to be the one guiding the sheep. It was a practical training to become a confessor, which we were supposed to be in the future. The relationship between a sheep and shepherd was based on spirituality. The sheep was supposed to discuss with his shepherd in confidence about his spiritual journey including his difficulties, struggles and triumphs in the face of trials. The shepherd was supposed to listen and give advice to his sheep when necessary. But in spite of such spiritual relationship, we were still supposed to have our own official spiritual director.

The relationship involved a lot of trust and openness, which were sown during the first week of our orientation. That first week, the cell groups spent time together sharing about their spiritual journey thus far. We bared our soul to each other, divulged some of our secret struggles, shared about our hopes and dreams. The level of disclosure was deeper between the shepherd and the sheep. Some of the revelations we made about ourselves were only to our respective shepherds.

My shepherd was James. He was a year older than me. He was on a self-regency program the year before, during which he reflected whether he still wanted to become a priest after he graduated from the philosophy department. After a year of teaching religion in a high school he decided to return to the seminary. He became our classmate.

After the week-long orientation and when the cell groups have been established, we met once a week as a group for an hour. The shepherd and sheep then must find a time to meet separately, also once a week. To deepen our relationships the cell groups were encouraged to spend some time together outside the seminary. The structure of the cell group helped a lot with my emotional need to feel that I belong. I had been longing for this kind of structure in my life, a sense of grounding, a sense of kinship that although was forced and almost perfunctory in the beginning, blossomed into a meaningful spiritual connection with someone and a group of like-minded young men.

James was a good listener. He was almost a kindred spirit in the sense that we both liked the arts. We both enjoyed the same music, the same films, the same type of food. We were both night owls. Sometimes the shepherd-sheep sessions that were supposed to last for an hour, would extend to the whole night. Our rooms were adjacent to each other which was conducive for this extended sharing of struggles and spiritual questions. We would talk for hours and hours about things that were bothering me, about things that were sustaining my faith, my passion to become a priest, about my difficulties and things that were keeping me awake at night.

Within three months, I became invested in our shepherd-sheep relationship, which signalled a new beginning in my priestly journey.

Some call him King, others Conqueror, others Holy One, still others Creator, Lion, but one of my favorites is El Shaddai–loosely translated as God Provides.

Evidence suggest that a more accurate translation would be “God, the Breast.”  The Hebrew El, meaning God, fused with the Hebrew sad, meaning breast (or shadayim, breasts).

Yes God wants us to call Him the Breast—which in my book isn’t all that flattering.  I mean, if I were the Omnipotent, I’d probably go for something…flashier, like warrior, powerful (and maybe handsome!).  But he chose The Breast.

And now I realize how wonderfully appropriate this Name is.

I was never breastfed.  My earliest sustenance came from the bottle. This is why I melt every time I see a Mother nursing her infant. The mother cradles the helpless babe in her arms.  He is too weak to position himself.  His eyes cannot yet distinguish red from green.  He searches for a breast, which the mother lovingly offers.  Sustenance comes out of her own body.  The feeding is intimate, and somehow…perfect.

Although the baby does not know the mother’s name, he knows that this being is kind, good.  He places his entire trust in her.

As Christians, let us not be bottle fed, drinking out of premixed notions of God and His goodness.  We have intimate access to Him. It would be a shame not to avail of this audience.

I look at God and I see someone who provides for me out of the Goodness of His own being. I am a helpless infant, blind to many things, and too weak to stand on my own. I am cradled in His arms needing His help even in feeding.  His sustaining grace is sufficient. It is intimate, like a mother’s breast to a child’s mouth. It is…perfect.

And although I do not know everything about God, I do know that He is good, kind.  I will place my trust in Him.  All I know is that He is El Shaddai.

And as a mother’s love that will never forget the child, so does my Lord love me.

The Breast. How appropriate.

Matthew 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Survivors see that the prize at the end of their trial is greater than their struggles, and they push forward, with hope and faith that they will make it to the finish line.  Christians have a finish line to cross as well.  Each generation faces their own trials and difficulty.  My grandparents, for instance, faced being born into severe poverty.  The  Great Depression helped form their character and resolve.  I believe the strength of their faith is due in part to how much they relied on the Lord Jehovah Yah to see them through the hard times that they were brought into.  God provided their every need, just as He does for us today.

Hebrews 12:1  Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Our prize is not going to come upon us here, on this plane of existence, and we must go through the Refiner’s fire, in order to experience true peace and salvation.  Our prize is only fully recognized and received upon our Earthly, natural death.  We must tarry on, through the dark valleys, knowing that there is an enemy who will try to trip us, stop us and desires to destroy us.  But the ultimate truth is that we have a job to do here, and the Lord will protect us and carry us through the valleys if we do not fear and put our full trust in Him.

Matthew 28:20   Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of age.
We are blessed to be chosen to live during this time.  We should live up to that blessing!  We must not only be strong in our faith, but also share our faith, through love, with all of those around us who have yet to know Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ, as their personal Savior.  The Rock on which we stand, has room for all…or as my friend so eloquently shared this morning, “there is STILL room at the cross.”

Imagine discovering a land overflowing with milk and honey…would you keep this discovery to yourself?  I would hope that you would want to share such a discovery with all you knew!  Heaven is such a place.  A place where there will be no hunger, no pain, sorrow or tears.  A place filled with the most beautiful Light, the pure, unfiltered Light of the Lord God Almighty!  We are to be His Light in this world, like a lighthouse that guides those in the dark safely home.

Matthew 5:14  You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Philippians 2:15  so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

But if you are caught up in the worries, fears and doubts of this world, your light is dim and flickering.   When we are concerned with the ways of the world, we are not focusing on the path Elohim has set before us.  If we conform to the ways of this world, we are of no use to the Lord.

Matthew 5:13  You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

Mark 4:19  but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

No matter what we face in this life, we must always keep our focus on our Creator and on the day we will be joined with Him in Heaven.

John 13:36  Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

John 14:2  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

Just as people purchase stock and bonds and put their money into trust funds, we are to put our trust fully and solely in Christ!  No other investment will be as profitable as when one gives their life up for a life in Christ.  We must take up our cross daily and face the day knowing that our treasures are being stored in Heaven.   Ultimately, the wages of sin is death, but death is not permanent for the believer, instead, it is only a passageway to life everlasting with our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, the Beloved!

Psalm 56:3-4  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6  Such confidence we have through Christ before God. ⁵ Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. ⁶ He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Nahum 1:7  The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. 

Through out the Living Word of God, we see the attempts of the unfaithful to try and kill or destroy those of strong faith.  From the Hebrews, to Job, and from Daniel, to Paul, God reigns victorious!  Such testimonies offer us resolve in perilous times.  Be found in the word, dear friends; there will you find your strength.  Through trial and tribulation, the men were still found praising God and trusting in His Supernatural powers and protection.

This world will soon pass, but what is to come is more glorious than the most creative mind could imagine.  Even though it seems the enemy has the upper hand, we all know how his story will end.  Jesus will be crowned King of Kings and the old world will be no more.  His reign will be one of fairness and peace and love.

Focus on the finish line.  Don’t let your sorrows bring you down.  We may suffer, but we should do so with gladness in our hearts.  And in all things, remain in prayer and shine your light bright, so that others may find their way in the darkness.

1 Timothy 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Until next time, Vaya con Dios!

Week Two – The Approaching and Approachable God

DAY ONE – The God Who Sees Me

source (dwellingintheword)

PAGE 35

Please read all of Genesis 16 to retain the context, then we’ll discuss the text into two parts.  After reading, concentrate on Genesis 16:1-6.

Two wrongs don’t make a right, nor does three.  

Wrong #1 Sarai used Hagar’s ability to get pregnant intending to use Hagar’s baby to start a family.  Acting presumptuously Sarai took matters into her own hands. Sarai didn’t trust God to get her pregnant.

Wrong #2 Hagar’s contempt of Sarai because Hagar was able to conceive whereas Sarai could not.  Hagar felt superior to Sarai.  Besides, who likes to be used…let alone as an incubator.

Wrong #3 Sarai’s response to Hagar’s contempt was to mistreat Hagar causing Hagar to flee.  It’s hard to be compassionate when you’re in the grips of jealousy and insecurity.  Still, retaliation is never the answer. 

PAGE 36

How about you?  Have you ever manipulated something that you didn’t get to keep?  If you’re comfortable sharing it, do so briefly.

How do women manipulate?   By using….tears, bribery, rewards, flattery, jealously, flirting, anger, helplessness, matchmaking, and withdrawal (distancing oneself).

YES.  A relationship that didn’t last.  A situation/project at work that failed.  My career, which is a farce.

Carefully study the dialogue between Sarai and Abram.  Does either of them ever call Hagar by name?  

NO

How do they refer to her?

SLAVE

PAGE 37

What does Proverbs 30:21-23 say about Sarai and Hagar’s strange arrangement?

The servant displaced her mistress.

Proverbs 30:21-23 (NIV) “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:  1) a servant who becomes king, 2) a godless fool who gets plenty to eat, 3) a contemptible woman who gets married, and 4) a servant who displaces her mistress.”

Glance once again at verses 7-15.  By the time we catch up with Hagar, she has traveled quite a distance and is obviously on her way back to Egypt.  Try to crawl into Hagar’s character for a moment.  If you were she, what would you have planned to do once you arrived, and what would you have told your relatives?

I would have tried to secure a place to live and prepare to give birth.  I would have told my relatives the situation/circumstances and hoped they would let me stay with them to survive.

(source: sacredgroves)

PAGE 38

Do you think the angel of the LORD in this context was God Himself or a powerful messenger sent by God?   Support your answer with Scripture.

Yes.  Genesis 16:10 says “The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”  The angel promised something that only God could do. 

In verse 13 Hagar says she has seen “The One” who sees her.  Hagar knew that it was God who spoke to her, and identified that “Thou God Sees Me.”  

 Through what questions did God dialogue with Hagar (vv.8-14).

vv. 8:  “And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

Do you think God already knew the answers?

YES

If so, why do you think He asked them?

To let Hagar know He has seen her.  That He is aware of Hagar’s plight/flight/situation.  God knew her pain, her aloneness, and her desperation.

From where have you come?

I’m not sure.  I feel like a stranger in a foreign land

Where are you going?

I feel as if I’m still journeying to reach a land I’ve never seen but have heard of its unsurpassed beauty, gloriousness, light, and peacefulness. 

PAGE 39

  What name did Hagar give God (16:13)? 

Beer Lahai Roi.   Meaning, the “Well of the Living One Seeing Me” or “The God Who Sees Me.”

In Hebrew, El Roi.  Ours, Dear One, is the God who sees.  Is there any particular reason why that name means something special to you right now?

He is the God who sees all….. when no one else cares to look.

Why might Hagar seeing God’s back make sense in reference to Exodus 33:20-23?

Exodus 33:20-23: “But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”  Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

No one may see God with human eyes and live.  His Shekinah Glory and Radiance is too great for human eyes to behold. 

Note: Genesis 17:1 says the Lord (El Shaddai) appeared to Abraham.  Exodus 3 records God appearing as a Spirit to Moses in the burning bush.  In Genesis 32:24-30 Jacob wrestled with and was blessed by God the Son (also see Colossians 1:15-17). 

DAY TWO – The Covenant of Circumcision

(source: 1bpblogspot)

PAGE 40

Who gave Ishmael his name according to this passage?

The LORD (vs. 11), then Abraham (vs. 15).

Read the first verse of Genesis 17. Compared to the conclusion of the previous chapter, how much time had passed?

13 Years.

What kinds of experiences or changes do you imagine filled these years for any of the four individuals involved?  I’ve listed some categories to spark your imagination:

Physical:  At 13 years old, Ishmael is a rebellious teenager, disrespectful to his elders and he probably didn’t like getting circumcised.  Genesis 16:11-12 says Ishmael will be “a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him.”  What’s another word for donkey?

Emotional:  Sarai and Hagar learned to co-exist and share wifely duties even though the jealousy and rivalry was still between them.

Spiritual:  Abraham renewed His faith in God – learned spiritual wisdom and to wait upon the Lord’s Will for the promise.

PAGE 41

What does Exodus 6:3 tell you in reference to the revealed names of God?

Appeared as GOD ALMIGHTY (El Shaddai). 

Exodus 6:3 – “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord[b] I did not make myself fully known to them.”

After introducing Himself afresh to Abram as God Almighty, what powerful commandment did God issue Abram (Gen. 17:1)?

“…..walk before me faithfully and be blameless.”

PAGE 42

  Read Genesis 17:1-14.  What had the LORD come to Abram to do (vs. 2)?

Confirm (make) His covenant with Abram and greatly increase Abram’s numbers (offspring).

In God’s lengthy discourse to Abram, what was Abram’s one act of response?

Abram and all His male descendants must be circumcised.  Every male among Abram’s group must be circumcised as a sign of the covenant between God and Abram.

(source: christianglobe.com)

Take a look at Genesis 12:1-3, God’s first statement of promise to Abram.  What additional dimension appears in Genesis 17:1-14?

Genesis 12:1-3 – “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 17:1-14 – “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers. Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.  I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God. Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.  For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

1) walk faithfully and blameless,

2) new name of Abraham,

3) kings will come from Abraham

4) everlasting covenant,

5) God of Abraham’s descendants,

6) circumcision of household males at 8 years old as sign of covenant,

7) land of Canaan given as an everlasting possession to descendants,

8) maintain the covenant or be cut off from it.

What would you name be is God breathed a “he” (the Hebrew letter He added to Abram’s name (into it?

Lihesa  

PAGE 43

I hope you noted Abram’s link to royalty: “kings will come from you” (Gen. 17:6).  I only want to whet your appetite for now, but what glorious three-person royal link do you discover in Matthew 1:1)?

Jesus the Messiah, Son of David, Son of Abraham 

 The New Testament emphasizes a circumcision of the heart (see Rom. 4:9-12; Gal. 2:15-21).  Can you see any parallels for our lives?  Share them below.

Cut out (remove) anything in our heart that offends God.  Examples:  selfishness, sinful wants and desires.

Godliness…the true circumcision of the heart.

ALSO SEE:  Deuteronomy 30:6 and 10:16; Jeremiah 4:4 and 9:26; Ezekiel 44:7-9; Romans 2:28-29 and 4:9-25; and Galatians 2:15-21.

You and I may need to “put off” or even figuratively “cut off” something from our lives so we may bear much fruit.  Is God speaking to you?  If so, use this space to write your response to Him.

Are you harboring bitterness, envy, regret, jealously, bigotry, racism, superiority, arrogance, vanity, rage/anger, resentment, negative speech, etc. in your heart?  If so, CUT IT OFF or CUT IT OUT.

PAGE 44

The consequences of Abraham and his descendants’ obedience to this command are clear.  What consequence is stated in Genesis 17:14?

If any man is not circumcised, that man will be cut off from his people because he has broken God’s covenant.

OBEDIENCE IS REQUIRED FOR BLESSING.

DAY THREE– No Longer Sarai

(source: dwellingintheword)

PAGE 44

Read Genesis 17:15-27.  Recall from our previous lesson God’s forthright commandment to Abraham and his descendants concerning the covenant sign of circumcision.  How quickly did Abraham obey God according to verse 23?

The same day that God said He made a covenant with Abraham.

PAGE 45

  Now, describe the blessing specifically spoken over Sarai’s life.

• She received a new name (Sarah),
• She will be blessed with a son (Jacob),
• She will the mother of nations,
• Kings of peoples will come from her.

What were Abraham’s responses to God’s direction?

He fell facedown.    He laughed.

Where do you see glimpses of Abraham’s strong feelings for Ishmael?

Genesis 17:18 –  ‘And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”

What did God promise He’d do for Ishmael? 

Genesis 17:20 – “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.”

Name several kinds of emotions we use laughter to express or even mask.

Emotion:  joy, humor, happiness, pleasure, delight, surprise

Mask:  doubt, disbelief, sarcasm, anger, mean-spiritedness, nervousness

PAGE 46

What do you think was behind Abraham’s laughter (Gen. 17:17)?

Surprise that he and his wife would be able to conceive in their advanced old age.   They had assumed that Sarah was barren (unfertile and unfruitful).  Abraham’s seed wasn’t sterile because he got Hagar pregnant.  They might have also felt anticipation and/or disappointment.

 Who or what do you tend to believe holds up God’s full blessing to you?

Satan …..and myself.

List as many of the ‘uns’ involved as you can.

Unemployment, undone, unbelief, unhappy, unfair, uncertain, unsettled, unproductive, unconscious, unable, unstable, unjust, unfortunate, unamused, unaccustomed, unappealing, unseen, uninformed, unobtainable.

PAGE 47

What was to be Sarah’s connection to royalty (Gen. 17:15-16)?

Kings of people will come from her.  Meaning, many kings would come from her bloodline.  She will be the mother of kings.  Examples:  King David, King Jesus.

Please write Genesis 17:15 in the space below.

“As for Sarai you Wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.  I will bless her.”

DAY FOUR– Anything Too Hard

(source: angels-angelology.com)

PAGE 47-48

Read Genesis 18:1-15.  Record everything you find peculiar or especially intriguing in this wonderful segment of Scriptures and God any corresponding questions you wish you could hear Him audibly explain.

Peculiarities:                              Questions:

3 Men  …………………………….If one was the Lord, who were the other two?

Feast under the tree …………Why did the Lord reveal himself in the heat of the day?

Sarah laughs ……………………Why did she not accept/trust in the Lord?

Sarah lied………………………..Why didn’t she know that God sees all things?

Circle (or underline) each reference to the one or ones whom Abraham encountered in today’s text:

“The LORD appeared to Abraham…”

“…three men standing nearby.”

“If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, …”

“…then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.”

“Then the LORD said…”

PAGE 49

What happens in Genesis 18:16, 22?

Vs. 16 “When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.”

Vs. 22 “The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.”

Now take a look at Genesis 19:1.  How are the two now identified?

“The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.”

Fill in these blanks exactly as the letters of each word appear in Psalm 8:1.

“O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

Check out Genesis 18:12.  What did Sarah call her husband?

“My lord”

PAGE 50

  What very specific prophecy did Sarah overhear (v. 10)?

The Lord will come back in a year and Sarah will have a son.

We see another association of Isaac and laughter.  Why did Sarah laugh (v. 12)?

Sarah probably thought to herself, “if figures, I’d have to be old, worn and tired and my body about ready to collapse before I am blessed with a son.”  She had her newborn past the age of retirement. 

Picture yourself as a 90 year old senior citizen enduring 9 months of swollen ankles, swelling tummy, endless kicks in the womb, strange food cravings, and hormonal shifts then 72 hours of excruciatingly painful labor before giving birth.

Dear One, may I ask you a blunt question?  Do you believe in miracles?  Whether your answer is yes or no, please explain why.

Yes, for other people (i.e. miracle of God and changing of hearts) and if you look at nature and universe.  No for me, miracles pass me by.

PAGE 51

The most important line in the entire encounter is the questions the LORD posed to Abraham in Genesis 18:14.  Place your name before the comma as if God is posing the question just to you.  Please write the question on the line below.

“Lisa, is anything impossible for the Lord?”

Describe a time when you deeply anticipated a time with God.

1) At my Dad’s death and funeral.

2) At the loss of my job and forced relocation to another state.

What part of time spent with the Father means most to you?

During quiet, private times when I’m alone.

DAY FIVE– Smoke Rising

(source: imageshack.us)

PAGE 52

Several shocking things happen in Genesis 19.  Please list them and add any questions or comments that would help you prepare for today’s discussion.

1)      The two angels preferred to spend the night in the square at first.  A public area.

2)      Men of the city wanted sex with the two angels.  Use of force – violent rape.

3)      Lot offered his 2 daughters to the mob of men saying “do whatever you want to them.”  Lot quick to sacrifice his own daughters to a mob of vile men.

4)      Lot’s son-in-laws refusing to leave the city.  So much for love for Lot’s daughters.

5)      Lot’s wife disobeyed and was turned into a pillar of salt.  No faith in God.

6)      Less than 10 righteous people found in the city.  What a shame.

OK, let’s work through these passages.  We witness a dimension of the miraculous as early as Genesis 19:1.  What time of day did the angels arrive in Sodom?

Two Angels entered Sodom in the evening.

What general time of day did the angels arrive “near the great trees of Mamre” according to Genesis 18:1?

During the heat of the day (noon or afternoon).

PAGE 53

What have we already learned about these men (Gen. 13:13)?

The people of Sodom were wicked (evil), and sinning greatly against the Lord.

  Paraphrase Ephesians 4:18-19 and tell how these verses apply to today’s text:

People’s ignorance guides their behavior.  They’re thoughts are selfish and their hearts are hardened.  They desire, seek, and give into evil and deviant sexual behavior and of every kind of perversion that has them craving more and more.  When people give into ungodly desires, they are made slaves to it.

PAGE 54

My earlier comments about Lot may seem to contradict 2 Peter 2:7.  What does this verse say about Abraham’s nephew?

Righteous Lot was distressed daily by the unrestrained behavior of the immoral people of Sodom & Gomorrah.  Lot was tormented by the lawless deeds he saw and heard among the people of Sodom.

How did Lot’s future sons-in-law respond according to verse 14?

They didn’t believe Lot.  The sons-in-law thought Lot was joking when he told them the Lord is about to destroy the city.  They didn’t take Lot seriously.

Do you ever encounter people who act as if the threat of judgment on a wicked world is a joke?  What do you think of such a response?

You’re joking right?  The people I meet are in denial.  They don’t believe the Book of Revelations will come true.  They say God is love and does not judge or punish. 

They’ll find out the truth eventually – hopefully not too late.

If Lot’s young sons-in-law had a second of clarity when the first pelts of sulfuric fire fill from heaven, their last thought was the sobering reality that the judgment of wickedness is no joke.  Take a look at 2 Peter 3:3-10 and note any comparisons.

1)      Punishment and judgment is reserved for the ungodly and immoral.

2)      The Lord will rescue, protect and deliver the righteous from trials and God’s wrath.

What comparison does Scripture make in 2 Peter 2:6-9?

Destruction of disobedient, ungodly people.  Preservation of obedient, Godly people.

PAGE 55

 Can you think of a time when “looking back” was a grievous mistake?  Share as discreetly as possible.

1)      Relationship with an old boyfriend that ended, was re-established, and then ended again…on an even more sour note. 

2)      Re-connecting with a certain family members who in the past were not trustworthy.  I made the mistake of trusting them when they said they changed.  I thought their sincerity was genuine.  I was wrong and I got hurt again.

PAGE 56

Does this make sense?  If so, say it in your own words or give an example.

1.       The Lot family didn’t engage in homosexuality, but they did engage in incest.

2.      Sarah didn’t have sex with other men, but she gave her husband consent to sleep with other women (i.e. Hagar).

3.      Abraham told other men (Pharaoh and Abimelech) that Sarai was his sister, putting her into adulterous situations.

Read John 14:23.  Why does love for Jesus lead to obedience?

If we love Jesus, we will keep His Word and be obedient to Him.  We will obey what Jesus instructs us.  Be faithful to Christ Jesus!

FOR PAGE 57 SEE VIEWER GUIDE ANSWERS ON MY BLOG – http://sunshineinthestorm.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/the-patriarchs-viewer-guide-answers/

Note: Scriptures taken from the NIV version.