Last autumn I cut back my 'Nellie Moser' clematis quite severely. This spring's cool wet weather di not encourage it to grow back. For weeks I thought it had died. Then it began to sprout, far too late to bloom, and I thought, 'Well, at least it will bloom next year'. In mid August it began to bloom - big flowers with the distinctive deep pink petal rib.  Since spring-blooming clematis often have a later show of a few flowers I enjoyed it but didn't expect more. But they keep coming! I have, in August and September, the full flush of spring bloom on my Nellie Moser clematis. What a bonus.

If that were not enough a different clematis, this one a very early blooming four-petalled white that climbs through my katsura tree, also bloomed this week. Not much (so far!), just a spray of half a dozen flowers high on the tree. This glorious vine - I don't know the variety because I bought it at a sale, cheap as the tag had fallen off - delights me by blooming each February and March. I have no right to expect it to delight me again in late summer. But, serendpity again , that is just what it is doing.

Perhaps I should re-name my garden 'Serendipity'.

Photo borrowed from Flickr

He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
(Ps. 25, v. 9)

Humble

Every time I stand beneath
the majestic ash, burdened with berries,
I am humbled

Every time I see the smile
on the face of a puddle-jumper,
I am humbled

Every time I pluck the fruits of summer
from the vine or the branch,
I am humbled

Every time I watch the hawk, soar
or hear the dove coo in the wind,
I am humbled

Every time I see the sea-waves, stir
with the strong-arm of a swirling storm,
I am humbled

Every time I see a burial
by the headstones--beyond my fence,
I am humbled

Every time I see Your cross
hanging high above Your altar,
I am humbled.

Beatasum ©2008

What an eloquent and powerful indictment of Israel! How could a people upon whom God had lavished such love and care and attention yield so little fruit ... be such a huge disappointment? Yet it was so, and nothing changed over the centuries. Indeed, when Jesus looked at Israel and its leaders he could do nothing but endorse what Isaiah had said. But Jesus gave the story a new twist: "There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him" (Matthew 21:33-39).

You killed the prophets because they reminded you of your failure and lack of fruit, says Jesus. And because I am bringing that same indictment against you, you will kill me too. He was right. They had indeed killed the prophets — "They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword" (Hebrews 11.37); and the reference to someone being sawn in two there is a reference to Isaiah himself whose manner of death is recorded in some non-Biblical Jewish writings called the Ascension of Isaiah. And now they would take Jesus and put him on the cross.

But here is the marvel. They would crucify Jesus not realising that he was in his own person, as representative Israel, the vineyard of God ... the vineyard they had failed to be. Once, prophetically, the psalmist had said: "Return to us, O God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself" (Psalm 80.14-15) — and there in front of them was that very son, yet the leaders of Israel were so blind that they could not see it.

But the disciples of Jesus could, for he revealed it to them. "I am the true vine," he told them, "and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15.1-5).

The vineyard that was Israel has now become the fruitful vine that is Jesus and his branches are those who have found their source of life in him. If I abide in him, make my home in him, and let the sap of his Holy Spirit flow in me, the truth that comes home to me this morning is that I will bear the "good grapes" ... the ones that God once looked for from Israel.

May that be so, Lord Jesus. Amen

Deuteronomy 30:11- 14 - For this commandment that I command you today - it is not hidden from you and it is not distant. It is not in heaven, [for you] to say, "Who can ascend to heaven for us, to take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it? Nor is it across the sea, [for you] to say, "Who can cross to the other side of the sea for us to take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it? Rather the matter is very near to you - in your mouth and in your heart - to perform it. 

It is written in the psalm, "I shall not die, but live." In order really to live, man must first give himself to death. But when he has done so, he discovers that he is not to die, he is to live.

How to say Torah. - I shall teach you the best way to say Torah. You must cease to be aware of yourselves. You must be nothing but an ear that hears what the universe of the Word is constantly saying within you. The moment you start hearing what you yourself are saying, you must stop. 

By extension, the entire natural universe serves HASHEM without expecting compensation. All the celestial bodies (sun, moon, etc) have no concept of self identity. 

To have no self identity goes against the grain of society. Moses had no self identity. The moment his universe lined up with that of HASHEM is when he went out into the fields with his brothers. Moses had wealth, shade from the sun and upon the horizon, kingship. Because he gave up the wealth and authority (a foreshadow of Yeshua) concerning the things of Egypt, HASHEM gave unto Moses a leadership role second only to Messiah Yeshua. When we lay down our lives for our brothers as did Yeshua (on his own authority) HASHEM directs His eyes towards us. Forty years to the day at the age of eighty while doing none other than shepherding a flock of sheep, HASHEM appears to Moses His servant. Prayers will be answered, the promise to Abraham concerning his descendants is underway and slave labor for the Jews of Egypt will cease. Blessed be the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

The above is mandatory not optional. Change comes in season not over night. This is the mistake that millions teach when it comes to approaching the alter. Without the spirit to guide us, without the lamp upon our feet and light upon our path we would all be groping in the darkness. God must be in the home from the moment of conception, first with marriage and upon the arrival of our children. We must make our decisions intellectual decisions. When we follow the masses we become like the open field, with the rushing of the northern wind, we perish. 

As one travels the road of Torah he or she becomes less in tuned with any personal ambitions. Like time all things move forward this is the way of Torah. Each day is a new moment to take hold of, to do as HASHEM does and that is to create continuously. Yochanan the immerser responded to a disciple, "I must become less so that he can become more." 

We shall continue. We will endure.

Shalom and abundant peace.

To think is to desire. To follow without study is to be lost. How fortunate are those who are raised in homes where Torah study begins early. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Today as well as the last eighteen hundred years, man has been lied to. He has been fooled. He has been removed like a branch from it's vine. He is now lifeless, twice removed from receiving the nourishment he so very much is in need of. Like electronics there is a new bible published every week. Words are displaced, and so too are many of those who read it. Yeshua tells us in Matthew twenty four that many will be fooled into war with one another because of a distance from TORAH. To do Torah is to hit the target. Fasten your seat belts because the ride will be a turbulent one. There is a chance that many of you will not be familiar with the term Torah, or its foundation. Most bible translations for the Word Torah is Law.

If the above applies to you don't be angry because you are not alone. For years preachers have taught that the Law (Torah) has been done away with, unfortunately they do not comprehend or just don't know they are speaking about the Word of God. Not that of man. Matthew 5: 17 - "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it." The word fulfill here means to bring into the light. Many false translations read it quite differently. The majority see it as this; "Because there is not one that is good, Yeshua took it upon himself and therefore brought it to an end." No. absolutely not. Sorry you have been lied to. Like any good teacher Yeshua did take it upon himself to expound the Torah, not to do away with it. When you deny Torah, you deny Yeshua. When you deny Yeshua, you deny Torah. Yeshua is the living Torah because he was without sin. He had to be otherwise he would have a false Messiah. God does not contradict Himself. His decrees are for all generations and all people. The Torah is binding to both Jews and Christians. 

Let us take a step back to the time of Noah. Noah is commanded to fill the ark with seven sets of each clean animals and one set of the unclean. Why,  because this is how God separates between those who are His and those who are not. God called to our Jewish people to be a nation of light, kings and priests. If the Sabbath, clean and unclean animals as well as all Torah were only for the Jews to follow what would be the point of HASHEM commanding our Jewish people to be light and an example. If God loves all people and He does, why would He want only the best for one nation and not for all. This all began with the Roman persecutors when they looked to bring an end to anything Jewish. Anything known as Judaism. I'm sorry but it is the truth. Jews have been persecuted by wanna be Christians for centuries. Yeshua said, "They will kill and persecute you and think they are doing God a favor." The very ones who accused our Jewish people (and still do) of being the Christ killers have done the persecution. This is not in anyway an attack on the Christian community. One must know its history and come to terms. I do. As a Jew I know about the disobedience of many of our ancestors. I am aware of the punishments dealt out by HASHEM. It has not escaped me. It is well documented. 

Yeshua was born a Jew, ministered as a Jew, was persecuted as a Jew and has risen as a Jew. Yeshua said unto the Samaritan woman, "Salvation comes from the Jews." Often I read or hear how it is taught and believed that non Jews or non Jewish believers have to abide by Torah. The fourth commandment to observe the Sabbath and sanctify it meaning set it aside as Holy is for all, not just our Jewish People. Apostle Paul did not speak against Torah, "Heaven Forbid." Yeshua did not declare pig flesh and bottom crawlers clean to eat. Again if he did; he would have spoken against Torah, and if he is Torah in the flesh he would contradict the Word. Yeshua said, "I am the Lord of the Sabbath." 

Man has not the right to think he can change the Word of God. Not of the Sabbath, dietary laws and not of the festivals, Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Feast of tabernacles. HASHEM commanded us not to do the things of the heathens, easter the fertility goddess. "Well God knows my heart I don't think He minds my partaking in christmas, halloween and easter." Think again. Is it any wonder why many of our Jewish people are not willing to sit down and hear what so many Christians have to say about Jesus. That brings me to another topic. Many people desire to know the devine name of God, but when it come to Messiah they have difficulty parting with the name Jesus. When the angel of God came to Miriam (Mary) telling of the one she will conceive, he never in a million years gave the name Jesus which come from the Greek. The name given was not Jesus but Yeshua meaning salvation. I will not hit anyone over the head concerning the name but we all need to consider his Jewishness and his given name. If man desires to use his given name how much more for the one you call Messiah. 

It is time for many to revisit the scriptures for themselves. Don't think it's wrong to study books other than Christian authors. Yeshua had some disagreements with the Torah teachers of his day but as much as many bible scholars continue to tell. Is the Creator of the universe not worthy of our time and study. Please receive all this with good intentions. Yeshua held back no punches. The truth shall set you free.

Shalom

Talking about my wife, she has spunoff preborn.wordpress.com  from noblevine.net at my suggestion for her Pro-Life work specifically, in an effort to further 'niche-ify' her work.

My Wordpress dashboard will never be the same again.

I purchased this vine last year at Lowe's, it was half dead when I planted it in the summertime.  By September last year, this is what it looked like!  It literally had a ton of these flowers, so I researched it and it's called a Passion Flower, native to the Southeastern US.  So, I really figured I'd enjoy it one season and that would be it.  I also learned that it's flower, leaves and stem are often used as a sedative or sleep aid in homeopathic medicine. 

It's a very large vine, like a Trumpet Vine or Morning Glory.  I found two aluminum scroll pieces that go on the front of screen doors and screwed them together and nailed them to a big tree so it could climb on something other than my hostas.  It's since surpassed the handmade aluminum trellis and attached itself to the tree!  It's also spread to other locations in my garden, I'm going to have to give some of it away!  Looking forward to it blooming sometime very soon, I have a feeling it's going to be loaded.

What a beautiful fringey flower!  I love buying plants and having no idea what they will be!  I also have trouble with sleeping, falling asleep, staying asleep, that kind of stuff.  Perhaps I'll go out tonight and munch on a few of these flowers, or make a tea.  How pretty would that flower be in a glass brewing pot?

Pothos is a common genus of vine here in El Nido. This one is clinging to Octomeles sumatrana, though you can't see much of the tree itself. Haha. Oh well :p Expect more plant photos in the coming days, as we've enlisted the help of an actual field botanist to help us identify the different plants you can see in El Nido. So far, we've gone through the Lagen hike and to Snake Island. Snake Island was very interesting for him as it has primarily ultramafic soil so very different vegetation from the ones he saw in Lagen.

Let us bless His Holy Name. Let us dance before Him with a joyful heart. How beautiful is the body that it was created to reproduce, speak, see and do. Praise Him in the heavens, praise Him in the valleys, blessed is His Holy name. At any given moment He appears and suddenly you feel yourself born again. Like springs of water cascading from the mountain top to the burst that flows within. Although you may grow tired and weary, HASHEM redeems. He restores. He cradles you in the palm of His hand. He was, He is and He will always be. Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. [I am/will be what I am/will be]

God speaks and it is done. Isaiah 55: 10 -11 - For just as the rain and the snow descend from heaven and will not return there, rather it waters the earth and causes it to produce and sprout, and gives seed to the sower and food to the eater, so shall be My word that emanates from my mouth, it will not return to Me unfulfilled unless it will have accomplished what I desired and brought success where I sent it. Amen Amen

God the true doer of the Word. He visions, He speaks, He divides and He gives all things a name. This is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is my God. HASHEM desires the heart of the righteous and He acts. Before the first word in supplication is drawn, the doors to the sanctuary are open. He is righteous and there is no other. He draws people to the Land of trust, the valley where one humbles herself. It is when we see the burning bush and we turn to take hold of. It is then that He answers. It is then that we find favor in His eyes. He is not like man who says one thing today and tomorrow he has forgotten. No, that is not my God. That is not the way He does things. 

He is merciful even when one does not merit a single breath, moment or day. When all else has filled He is there to redeem, to pull up, to extinguish the flames that taunt your existence. He is, He was and He will always be. Blessed be His Holy Name. His Kingdom is forever and ever. 

In the Words of Rashi: If a teacher of Torah is authentic, he will bring water to the thirsty; but if he is not, students have to search for themselves until they find it.

I pray that this enlightens each and everyone who reads this. Blessed be the One who formed the mouth.

Shalom and abundant joy. 

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Neighborhood: Belltown

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Built in 1994, the Banner Building consists of commercial and residential spaces.  The building's most popular homes are the fourteen high-end two-story studio lofts.  The AIA award winning building was built to accommodate artists who work and live from home, and most every home in the building is unique since it was originally built for homeowners to design themselves.  Ed Weinstein of Weinstein Copeland Architects said, "The building is the framework within which artists can work."  Although old loft buildings have been converted into live-work spaces in Seattle for many years, the Banner Building is the first project designed for this purpose.  With its unconventional program, it is not surprising that the project's original developer, Koryn Rolstad, is not really a developer at all, but an artist with enough determination to bring the project to life.  Rolstad, who runs an architectural sculpture studio called Bannerworks, wanted to create a community where art and commerce came together and where struggling artists could live with more established ones.

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• Year Built: 1994
• Number of Units: 26 + 5 Commercial
• Number of Stories: 7
• Exterior: Cement/Concrete
• Parking: Common Garage
• Pets: Subj to Restrictions
• H/O Dues Included: Central Hot Water, Garbage, Water/Sewer
• Common Property Features & Amenities: Elevator, Fire Sprinklers, Terrace

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*Data is deemed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. In some cases, number of units may include commercial and residential spaces and/or height may or may not include a 13th floor. ]]> http://rabbilawrence.wordpress.com/?p=130 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:53:03 +0000 rabbilawrence http://rabbilawrence.wordpress.com/?p=130 Shalom to all.

This weeks Torah Parashah focuses on the blessing and the curse. The blessing of living long in the good land and the curse that comes from disobedience. Like the story of Eden where Adam and Eve were tossed out because of disobedience (rather it was God's plan or not) so too does it go for the land East of the Yarden. The Hand of God upon us is a good thing, it is our protection. It is when He removes His covering that we are turned over for persecution from a nation we do not know and a language unfamiliar. 

Re'eh means to see. To see is to acknowledge, to grab hold of. It is to be aware. So it goes. Deuteronomy 11: 26 - 32 - See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing; that you hearken to the commandments of HASHEM , your God, that I command you today. And the curse: if you do not hearken to the commandments of HASHEM, your God, and you stray from the path that I command you today, to follow gods of others, that you did not know. It shall be when HASHEM, your God, brings you to the Land to which you come, to posses it, then you shall deliver the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. Are they not on the other side of the Jordan, far, in the direction of the sunset, in the land of the Canaanite, that dwells in the plain, far from Gilgal, near the plains of Moreh? for you are crossing the Jordan to come and possess the Land that HASHEM, your God, gives you; you shall possess it and you shall settle in it. You shall be careful to perform all the decrees and the ordinances that I present before you today. 

The bible often speaks about bodies of water, wilderness and dry places. When Abram was called out from his home land he traveled across dry land. When Moshe escaped Egypt he fled across dry land. However when God takes us to a new level He parts bodies of water. When man is immersed in water he is to come out a new man. From the land of slavery to the land of promise bodies of water are crossed. When we come out of, we ascend. Its always ascend. To come out of Egypt it is to ascend to a more spiritual place. A place of new heights. We are no longer in the old but in the new. So it is.

Deuteronomy 12: 1 - 3 - These are the decrees and the ordinances that you shall observe to perform in the Land that HASHEM, the God of your forefathers, has given you, to possess it, all the days that you live in the Land. You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations that you shall possess worshiped their gods: on the high mountains and on the hills, and under every leafy tree. You shall break apart their alters; you shall smash their pillars; and their sacred trees shall you burn in the fire; their carved images shall you cut down; and you shall obliterate their names from that place. 

You should know that the only living God is a jealous God and He won't settle for anything less. We are called to be a nation of Kings and Priests. A king is never in lack and a priest ministers to the people. So why have we gone astray? Jerusalem If I forget thee may my right hand fail me. In a world with a population of six billion people it is no small task to separate oneself. With pagan holidays, morality lacking radio, movies and television shoes how is one truly expected to be set apart. 

Deuteronomy 12: 28 - 31 - Safeguard and hearken to all these words that I command you, in order that it will be well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the eyes of HASHEM, your God. When HASHEM, your God, will cut down the nations, to which you come to take possession from them, before you, and you will take possession from them and settle in their land, beware for yourself lest you be attracted after them after they have been destroyed  before you, and lest you seek out their gods, saying, "How did these nations worship their gods, and even I will do the same." You shall not do so to HASHEM, your God, for everything that is an abomination of HASHEM, that He hates, have they done to their gods; for even their sons and their daughters have they burned in the fire of their gods. 

Deuteronomy is known as Mishnah Torah. The entire book of Deuteronomy is spoken to the b'nei Israel by the mouth Moses in the twelfth month of the fortieth year. Moses is reiterating lessons and trials since their departure from Egypt. He's warning of the temptations that lie ahead, as well as the penalties for disobedience. 

We are not to mention the name of God in just anyplace we choose nor are we to eat sanctified meat and offerings where He has not established His Name. There is no longer a temple that we can travel to so that we can offer up our first fruits. Moses commands the children of Israel that once they cross over into the land that God had promised to us through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we could no longer build alters where ever we chose. For those of us who do not live in Jerusalem, we have no choice but to do what it is we do. During the periods in which the first and second Temples were erected, every man would bring his offering to the alter to be inspected by the priests and as long as the offering was without blemish (sheep, goat) the offering was accepted. What comes to mind is the story of Cain and Able. Able offered up his very best and therefore it was accepted where Cain's was not.

God says that my people flatter Me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me.

How glorious it will be when Messiah returns and the glory of Jerusalem will be restored. Times have changed and the world for the most part has become a landfill. It is a dog eat dog world. People are persecuted because they don't go along with just any dictator. Yeshua said that we would be murdered and those with our blood on their hands will think their doing God a favor. So it is.

Deuteronomy 13: 1 - 5 - The entire word that I command you, that shall you observe to do; you shall not add to it and you shall not subtract from it. If there should stand up in your midst a prophet or a dreamer of a dream, and he will produce to you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes about, of which he produce to you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes about, of which he spoke to you, saying, "Let us follow gods of others that you did not know and we shall worship them!" - do not hearken to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of a dream, for HASHEM, your God is testing you to know whether you love HASHEM, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul. HASHEM, your God, shall you follow and Him shall you fear; His commandments shall you observe and to His voice shall you hearken; Him shall you serve and to Him shall you cleave. Amen And Amen.

Yeshua also spoke about false prophets and said that there will be many who will come in his name.

Be wise in your studies and know it well.

From the mouth of Rashi, "If a teacher is authentic he will bring water to the students, if not the students must search it out for themselves." 

Shalom and abundant joy.

The experience was amazing!  Yes, it hurt a lot especially in the bony places but I definately went into a trance for some of it and experienced a whole range of positive emotions.

So it seems; the soul cries out and we don't hear its voice. Is it possible? Are we guilty of kidnapping our very selves, the part of God that dwells within. What have we become. Have we become? Are we? The truth shall set you free. We are told that there is nothing outside of the Realm of God. We are told that He encompasses all else. So it seems that we as humans have put God in a box. I believe it to be true that God stands alone and that there is nothing outside of all His attributes and manifestations. I am guilty, at times anyway of kidnapping, holding hostage He that dwells within. Our soul cries out like an infant left alone, although he or she cannot see clearly, he or she knows its mother is not nearby. our souls like that infant weeps for comfort, for warmth and to be fed. We too like that infant, that newborn child looks for direction, a hand to guide. With time as we neglect what's within our soul, our spirit begins to rebel. Like in the wilderness with no human companion, or not knowing what lies ahead, we wish to turn back. But we cannot turn back. That would be wrong. That would be abandonment. 

When we crave anything other than what God wants and cares for us, we have left our soul at the door way of abandonment. You can turn back. It is told of our Jewish Forefathers that we have inherited lies. Those lies being idolatry and abandonment of Torah. So it seems true for so many church observant folks today. Abraham cried out for the future of his descendants and HASHEM comforted him. Genesis chapter 15: 12 - 16 - And it happened, as the sun was about to set, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold - a dread! great darkness fell upon him. And He said to Abram, "Know with certainty that your offspring shall be aliens in a land not their own - and they will serve them, and they will oppress them - four hundred years. But also the nation that they will serve, I shall judge, and afterwards they will leave with great wealth. As for you: You shall come to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And the fourth generation shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite shall not yet be full until then. 

To think how we cry out, how much more God Himself. The world has become a bottomless pit of oppression, hatred, racism, immorality of sorts, terrorism, slander, gossip and greed. Where is the justice and righteousness? Where are the people? Isaiah 59: 9 - 15 - This is why justice is far from us, and righteousness doesn't catch up with us; we look for light and see only darkness, for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope for the wall like the blind; like people without eyes we feel our way; we stumble at noonday as if it were dusk, we are in dark places like the dead. We growl, all of us, like bears and moan pitifully like doves; we look for justice but there is none; for salvation, but is far from us. For our crimes multiply before you, our sins testify against us; for our crimes are present with us; and our sins, we know them well: rebelling and denying ADONAI, turning away from following our God, talking about oppression and revolt, uttering lies which our hearts have conceived. Thus justice is repelled, righteousness stands apart, at a distance; for truth stumbles in the public court, and uprightness cannot enter, honesty is lacking, he who leaves evil becomes a target.

Cry no more my soul for I will not leave you.

I encourage everyone to continue their studies and before you turn the first page that you ask HASHEM to mentor. He will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Shalom and joy.

"The harvest is great and the workers are few, pray that the Father sends more workers." Famous words of Messiah Yeshua. You may plant the seed but what will come of it if HASHEM does not water it. A people cut off from their maker is not a people at all but a tree that bares no fruit. A root will wither if the roots are cut only for the branch to become dry. So we have come so far and yet where are the people. Everyone is so sure they have the answers. Much of todays religion is like a garage sale, get there early to find anything usable, arrive late and you're going home empty handed. Make it what you want, hide it , disguise it, place it in storage, sooner or later you're going to have to face the truth. Outside of God we are nothing. Our hands did not get us these things, our wisdom did not bring us success or wealth. No. Absolutely not. Please forget about it. All to often I hear, "God knows my heart." So because of this age old remedy that has its conception from a bottomless pit of nothingness you have forged yourself an escape route. 

I'm not here to anger anyone or any group of people. Nor do I want to insult you. I only want to reach out to you so you may see things differently. The Church did not replace the Temple. The grafted in branch did not replace the natural branch. We are all here because of God's mercy, nothing more, nothing less. However, God's mercy is in no way an excuse, not for anyone. The time has come for the world to know its Maker. The Foundation of it all. The One who builds up and tears down. He that causes it to rain in due time or gives authority to the four winds to hold it back. For too long now the Church system of the last eighteen centuries has separated itself from the vine. It has forgotten it's roots. The source of life. The One who nourishes and feeds. Too many of its occupants have denounced and they don't know that they have, their Creator. Matthew 5:17 -20 - Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. Yes indeed! I tell you not until heaven and earth pass away, nit such as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened. So whoever disobeys the least of these miztvot (commandments) and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven! 

The last time I looked we still have a heaven and a earth. So what do we do with all those who teach Gentile believers that the Torah is not for them but only for the Jews. I have been asked if the Torah is binding to the Gentile as it is binding for the Jew. Yes it is. What does it mean to be grafted into the olive tree? We are not saved by works but by faith, however works come by faith. Messiah Yeshua cares not to have His name dragged through the mud on any pagan man made holiday. Yeshua worshiped in the Temple on The Father's commanded holy days. Messiah Yeshua would have not made the grade if he did anything less. How is it that tens of millions of people say that they read the bible but somehow turn a blind eye to the first, second, third and fourth commandment? God is against paganism rather it was four thousand years ago or today. If certain commandments were for the Jews only why would  God remind us Jews everyday that we are to be a light and an example to all nations. Reminder I'm not looking to bash anyone and I'm certainly not perfect in all my ways. I tell you these things because I care just as God cares. There is more to God than just salvation, there is obedience. So many refuse to change because of fear, because of their families, their friends, their congregations and tithes and offerings. God is the one who provides. He holds the keys to all treasuries. Fear not the persecution of the world and those nearby. Fear the Lord thy God and Him only. Fear not man who can take your physical body but God who can take both your body and soul. 

Come out of her my people says the Lord. 

Shalom and abundant Joy.

As I mentioned before, I've been invited to join Amazon Vine. It's a little group of Amazon shoppers who get advance copies of books, movies, software, etc, that they then review. I've seen things on the list as diverse as self-help books, tools, a $1,500 exercise machine and several Rosetta Stone language courses (I really hope I snag one of those some day). The items are free as is the shipping.

Back on Thursday I got the second full offering list of my nascent Amazon Vine career. It was almost entirely books, plus one protien shake and two DVDs. I wound up picking the DVDs, which were Masters of Science Fiction: The Complete Series and another one called Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea. This is the first time I've ordered movies from the Vine program. I can't wait to see them and review them!

Overall I'm pleased with the Vine program. While I haven't been able to get any really high-end items, I have been able to get some books I really liked, and these DVDs are promising. Plus, hey, it's free. What's not to like? :)

Anyone else out there in Vine? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

This I think was one of the prettiest cake that I have done in quite a while.  I like the alternating designs on each tier, a piped vine and the wavy line, easy to do, simple, but eye catching. I just love how the table cover and the flower colors matched so well.

April
has been evicted from
the BB10 House

New HOH - No New HOH tonight

Well, it looks like its an endurance competition: King of the Jungle, Last Person Hanging on their vine wins! And we all know how endurance comps go. So we won't know who is HOH until tomorrow in real time and probably Sunday in TV time.

Next Thursday will be double eviction night

Murray on the true Christian, the good vine--

If I am something, then God is not everything; but when I become nothing, God can become all, and the everlasting God in Christ can reveal Himself fully. That is the higher life. We need to become nothing. Someone has well said that the seraphim and cherubim are flames of fire because they know they are nothing, and they allow God to put His fullness and His glory and brightness into them. Oh, become nothing in deep reality, and, as a worker, study only one thing-to become poorer and lower and more helpless, that Christ may work all in you.