Much Questioning

   I do often offend religious people, they feel I somehow assault their sensibilities because I question their dogma. I make clear that the root word for religion is "to bind" and I then make clear that The Father has never taken anyones freedom of choice away. We can make all the right choices or all the wrong choices, the Father wants us to learn, some have more time than others. If you are willing to pay the price, then let it be, the Father weeps for all he loses.
   I question if you know that the saviors name is Yahshua/Yahushua why would you continue to verbalize "Jesus"? If your name was Robert would you want to be referred to as Shawn? I will make my point once more, there is no letter "J" in Paleo Hebrew/ Aramaic either in script or phonetically.....period.
   I question all of these churches with their huge castles of worship, with lavish lifestyles afforded the pastors, reverends, priests and ministers by the people they supposedly shepherd. In the time of the Prophets and Apostles, teaching was something you did, but you had a day job, The Savior did not come to start an industry.
   I question the people who in some twisted zeal for evangelism, more zealous then thoughtful, sympathetic or empathetic, turn more people away from the Father then towards him.
   I question the stubborn ones who actually see the light and the truth and refuse to embrace it. I respect their independence, but at some point you will have to choose sides.
   I question the educated who would rather mislead using incomplete "logic" rather then embrace their spiritual side, they won't believe something they cannot measure or see. Faith and Trust do not exist, they are merely relative. If something becomes inconvenient they talk around it.
   I question the ones who have been spoken to and don't speak out, we are not spoken to with the intent of keeping silent, tell what you know, you are under directive.
    I question the politicians who embrace evil, like islam and multiculturalism, and force it upon the very people who elect them to protect them from exactly that.
   I question the people who continue to believe that politicians have the peoples best interest in mind and vote for obvious traceable liars, over and over again, expecting different results every time.
   I question the people who can justify not showing hospitality, the simplest of dignities that we have to extend, even when we have nothing, it reflects our society. Sad, very very sad.
   I question a society that makes murder acceptable depending upon who it is and how well they can defend themselves, more money more justice? No justice no peace! How about know justice, know peace through the Father.
      When will people realize what really matters, our relationship with the Father and our relationships with others. Are we dedicated to our relationships?  Are we honest in our relationships? Are we loving and empathetic? Are we engaged and curious? Are we trusting and gracious? Are we strong yet tender? Would you be willing to lay your life down? Got a match?

Guess My Kryptonite

We all have our weaknesses, our personal kryptonite. In my world I have many weaknesses which, like most people, I am able to either overcome or at least mask. As young people we typically have enough fire, strength and energy in us to just batter our way through life, everything is new and we are more willing and able to absorb "punishment" for our behavior. We learn as we get older.
  So , obviously, "kryptonite" is something that can weaken us as people. In my world the only weakness that is deadly is spiritual weakness. If you are a believer you know that the Father wants a relationship with us, to walk, talk and share. In order to have a relationship you have to commit yourself, your time and energy, to get to know the one you want to relate to. Over the past 15 years I have taken time and made efforts to get to know our Father. The relationship requires continual attention.
  So what is my kryptonite? Anything that steals large blocks of my attention away from the relationship. Sex, drugs, rock and roll, alcohol, just a few of many. Which one is my kryptonite and which are just the tools and means to execute my distraction? It wouldn't take any critical thought to figure that out. As a young man I blocked out large periods of time for my kryptonite, for that there was major physical punishment, but my kryptonite is very compelling and I was willing to pay the price.....for a while. I still have the compulsion but have found discipline and control are almost as compelling and a lot less painful. That doesn't mean I can't fall victim to myself again, chances are I will, but having learned discipline and control the chance of "getting away from myself" is low.
   So we know that my kryptonite is painful, but is it physical pain or spiritual or both? Both. I don't have an addictive personality, I do have obsessions and compulsions which make kryptonite scary. It would take nothing for me to be led "down a path". I have to be aware and engaged at all times. I can be caught by surprise, my kryptonite is very compelling and I am a physical man.
   So here is my point, kryptonite can be anything. I don't have to tell anyone what my kryptonite is, we all have a different weakness. What we do need to be is aware of our weakness and not let it dictate or lead. Don't allow yourself to be distracted from what is important, you can still have your fun, just don't let it consume you.
   People will interpret Scripture as they will, they may want to heap guilt upon others for their behavior out of jealousy or some warped sense of "evangelism". Let me be clear, your relationship with the Father is your own, unique and special to you. Nurture and cherish it, take time, pay attention, listen. Don't let the beautiful glow of kryptonite distract you.....too much.
   

Lazy People

So today I was being trained on an optical inspection machine, not a comparator, this machine can be programmed. There is actually a "lazy" feature, which brought me back to some conversations I have had.  I have had a few people engage me over how lazy people actually make things easier and better through better processes. I have had to give this some thought because on the surface the logic "seems flawless".  The lazy feature in this inspection machine actually is like a quick start, so in that it really does streamline a process. Then it hits me, typically the people who engage me in this argument are lazy. Sadly I have had the misfortune of working with some of them and some are family. I have witnessed their "streamlining process" and that is where the logic falls apart. Unlike the lazy feature in the optical inspection machine, which streamlines the process of using the device, lazy people streamline their process by putting their work off on others. It is just that simple. Just because you streamline your personal process does not equate to benefitting the rest of the team. By off loading work load on others you do not increase efficiency, you show your deficiency. My opinion.

Now That is Control

     Take a look into history and you see that there have always been people in positions of power. People in power are usually not the best people for the position. They seek power for a reason. Why would one seek power? Because they don't really have it within themselves. Those in power, in my opinion looking through history, have been the weakest. There are exceptions. In order to maintain control the weak must prey on the strong. That would not work in nature, but it does with people. With minimal numbers and tenacity the weak can destroy the strong. Nazi Germany is a great recent example. An insecure, hateful self destructive  and weak man destroyed more than a nation by stealing something he did not have inside himself, power. Hitler took power the old fashioned way. Weak does not necessarily mean stupid, it may not be genius but it can be very clever, as evil usually is. Hitler learned to speak, he learned the Germans "emotional language" and preyed on that. He was able to "mesmerize" the German people into believing something wholly untrue. Strong people were destroyed in his wake. Some by choice, some incidentally. Can you imagine the damage he could have done with our modern media!
      Now look around you. Look at the worlds leaders. Listen to what these leaders tell their people. Think about the people, groups and money behind these leaders. Now think once more about who really leads in our modern times. Who or what makes daily contact with people, offering news, opinions and insights into the world. Let me be clear, the "who" is bought and paid for by wealthy people/entities. It breaks my heart because I do enjoy watching television, but television and video are what are dictating what we think, how we behave, right, wrong, morality and immorality, good and evil. It guides the peoples votes, it tells us what to wear, where to eat and hang out, what to drink, what is healthy and unhealthy. It allows people who lie into our homes. Because we see it we believe it. Hence our lack of Faith in this day and age. We are being misled through magic, sorcery and trickery of the eyes. How hard is it to elicit emotions from people? Using sound and image is the most powerful way to influence someones way of thinking and living, look around you. Sound and image are being used to "instruct and condition" human beings. Think about the people behind the cameras and productions, then think about the wealthy owners behind them. People who own the communications companies tell their employees what will be news, what the opinions will be, who will receive political cover, what is right ,wrong, good and evil. Whether it is actually "right" or "wrong" "moral or immoral" is not important. The producers, directors, camera operators and actors carry out the owners orders. If you were to point out to them that what they were doing was wrong, you would hear something about a paycheck and the bosses orders. Reminds me of post WWII Nazis excusing their behavior because they were taking orders. Yep that is exactly where I just took this.
    Our leaders are bought and sold. Our news is bought and sold. Our leaders work to ingratiate themselves not to the people they lead, but to the wealthy people who influence through implied threat of a ruined image reaching the masses. We are being guided by the weak. Hollywood tells us daily that "we just don't have enough" if you just had "more" all would be well. Politicians promise to help you get "more", Hollywood and politicians working in synergy. There is a level of leadership behind the two that pulls the strings. I picture  a society that looks like Tantalus, all good things always in your face just out of reach. Keep the masses in control. Obey or suffer.
   I don't particularly admire Ancient Roman society, but they had it right in their thoughts about actors and the people associated with that business. In Roman society actors and such were the lowest form of living life. I admire intelligence, but I also have a practical side that says acting doesn't really produce anything useful.  In our modern times these same actors reach the masses with their opinions. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. What makes Hollywoods opinion better then say, yours? Hollywood reaches the masses, you don't. Hollywood hires actors whom they can"direct" to get the masses to admire them. Actors will say anything for money, it is their job. Some might be a little more discerning then others, but that really is the job. I give you money, you say what I tell you to say and be convincing. So actors learn then know the "emotional language " of their audience. Whether it is a news anchor or a sitcom/movie actor, they know how to "speak" to you. Just like good ole' Hitler knew how to speak to the German people. TV/video knows how to speak to the masses
     Back in the day taking power required having a large enough force of like minded people with weapons who could swarm the unaware and force them to join or die. You could see this force coming and could have possibly fled. With mass media and mass communication, "you cant run from trouble cuz there ain't no place that far". Mass media has already conquered us. The media plant the seed and the people do the dirty work, willingly. We socially judge and self police based on Hollywoods standard.
     We bow to the media and hang on their every word. We go to the movies and allow our emotions to be swayed by grifters. We shop at...... We eat at....... We drive a.......I own a ........all these things make us acceptable because "that movie had it in it" or "that star wears...." or " I have to look like"..... "I have to eat and drink...." my image my image my image. This is how obedience is instilled. I guess most of us are feeble minded enough to purposely step into the trap and stay there. Anyone who actually is "gifted" is in peril in this society, TV will exploit them and then destroy them. Back in the day special people were burned at the stake, this served two purposes, one is it got rid of people who were smarter than the leaders and secondly, it showed the masses who was in charge. Today we don't burn anyone at the stake. If you don't conform you will be destroyed or relegated to the fringes of society via mass media.  Once your image is shown on TV in negative context.......there is no return. You will have your image and reputation destroyed, you live the rest of your life burning at the stake. Now that is control.
 
 

Pop Goes The Culture

 I am beyond done with commercialism and pop culture. Don’t get me wrong, I still go shopping, I still listen to music and turn on the TV. I am tired of the two working in synergy with one another to work people over. I am sick of seeing people being driven to “look a certain way” or “be seen in certain things” in order to be acceptable. You have to eat “certain things” in “certain places” to be seen as “someone”. If you don’t conform you are relegated to the so called fringes of society. I am so appalled by some of the behavior I see in people that at times I have difficulty wanting to deal with anyone. That is impossible though, especially knowing I have to engage people in order to be helpful. I wonder if people ever consider what the Father would say about our dress, or the cars we drive, or the food we eat. Would it matter to him? Its about whats on the inside. 

   Back to my ire. The inside is exactly what commercialism and pop culture attack. They have to in order to gain “control”. If corporations and pop stars could not gain “control” they couldn’t sway you to buy their product. There is so much money at stake that destroying people from the inside using the outside is justified( with manufactured food we are literally destroying ourselves from inside out). Lets face it , we are social creatures, we desire acceptance. Humans can be lazy, shallow and superficial, most corporations and pop stars know this and prey upon it. I am sure at one point or another corporations and pop stars have good intentions, but when they see the money, they fall under the moneys control.It really is a “human” thing.

    All of what I have written is not justification for not participating in society, actually it is justification to engage people harder so they can find the truth themselves. I believe people who recognize destructive behaviors, trends or patterns in society should engage people, inform them, give them facts, offer an opinion, point out the obvious and be gracious about it, just don’t capitulate, you have a duty to your fellow man. If you help someone see clearly they will have the ability to guide themselves. When we see clearly we make better decisions, then we can help others.

Most pop stars and corporations only help people for tax relief. Expecting help from the greedy is counterintuitive anyway. I am sure many would say seeing clearly is “subjective”. Those would probably be the same people who feel the truth is “relative”. You might have an argument, but that would be with someone else, not me. 

   

Mortis Altus

 Intelligence can be intimidating, prophetic intelligence is just scary.....with that in mind I will address two issues.

 Lets start with Faith, it is fine with me for people to believe as they wish. We were given freedom for a reason. I get it , some people need concrete evidence to believe in anything. Funny thing about that , people end up believing in something they cannot see or define anyway. You can point to all the evidence and clearly define and explain its meaning and people will still not believe. Lets face it, many more are programmed to be skeptics rather than believers, its easier. Most people choose ease, humans are generally lazy. To be a believer requires work, you have to study and learn. To go out and evangelize requires Faith and motivation. I get that sometimes the Evangelists zeal maybe  more than an atheist can tolerate, but they really do mean well. I think that is where my problem lies though,with most things. People attempting to force their agenda and beliefs down others throat. That includes all the inane arguments atheists bring to the table. Most are just talking points they have picked up here and there. When you challenge them they are hard pressed to do anything but raise the volume of their pathetic argument. No facts, no homework just blather and rubbish. So to the atheist world I say, be prepared, there will be no mercy. If you are not dressed for the show and standing at the door waiting to be ushered in, the door will be closed and locked and there will be no mercy. Mortus Altus.....

  And now to the gun ownership argument. When the proverbial dung hits the fan and protection is needed , who will the anti gun lobby run to for protection? To gun owners of course. They will feel their best chance of survival rests with people who can protect themselves from danger. They will look to the gun owners and see people who by their own hand can protect themselves, and hopefully others. It is going to be interesting when when the whole bunch see that they cannot save themselves under any circumstance involving their own hands. No weapon in their arsenal is going to be powerful enough to save them. No, mankind could launch every weapon we have at once and we would lose, miserably. That is what is coming. To those who don’t believe the holocaust happened, well you will get a taste of that, in fact it will be much worse. The holocaust will look like a party. The only people who will be saved are those dressed for the show, guns are not part of the outfit. Guns are a tool, I believe in gun ownership. I know the weapons limitations as well as my own. Don’t get caught with your jaw on the floor and your lantern empty......Mortus Altus

  

  

Scriptural Legalism Rant; To Teach or Prod

    I have been meaning to write about Scriptural legalism for quite a while. It seems I always find something more "topical" or "worldly" to write or talk about. I am not an in vogue person. I do love to talk and write about what I have learned about our Father, including my own personal relationship with Him. My personal walk with the Father is more then "magical", surreal and rewarding, it is real.
    What I have learned about our Father is that he loves all of us, that is those of us who love him. Yahweh mourns for the ones lost to the evil one. The sad thing is many are led to their death by people meaning well, people who really have good intentions, of course there are many who mislead for their own selfish purposes. The reality though is that it really doesn't matter how you got to hell when your already there, there are no do overs. 
    What all believers need to realize is that their walk with the Father is their own. That doesn't mean "wow I can do what ever I want and there are no consequences".....wrong. You have to get to know Him, even more importantly you have to let Him know you by letting Him in. You get to know him and his nature by reading Scripture. You don't cherry pick verses or chapters, you read from Genesis to Revelations. Then you do it again. And again. He will come to you.
     What the people who press Scriptural Legalism forget is that every believers walk  with the Father is his or her own. We were given the freedom of choice. As much as the Father wants us to make the right decision we are free to make mistakes, including the ultimate mistake.      Scriptural legalists will cite chapter verse letter and law to attempt to "guilt " people into a certain behavior. What they forget is that when Yahshua came to us in the flesh and was nailed to the pole he did away with the legalistic. Yahweh's chosen people couldn't follow the law to the letter and they were trained in it, how could any Gentile. Hence our need for Yahshua. 
       It is great when an individual bears down and learns about the Father by studying the Word. The relationship, however, requires a bit more then study. It actually requires a relationship, a walking talking laughing crying relationship, a profound relationship based on Faith and Trust. When we study and learn we have to remember that we are guides, not answers. When I get questions statements or comments about life tied to Scripture my normal response is to tell them.....pray. You will be fine and you will get a response. I don't typically try to get too involved at first. 
     A Spiritual Legalist will ask questions, most are really traps or funnels to guide their "prey" into certain answers so that they can pass judgement on the behavior using Scriptural Doctrine. I understand we have loved ones we may feel are misguided, and maybe a kind word or a little persuasion might get them right with the Father. My kind words may not be your kind words and sometimes the best intentions backfire because of the perception of "self righteousness". This is one of the lines spiritual legalist cross consistently, it is unfortunate because it drives more people away from the Father then it does draw them to Him.

 So let me do a bit of legalism of my own:

1. The Fathers name is Yahweh, not Jehovah or allah or baal or lord or.....lord is a title not a name. He tells us his name is a blessing. Why would we withhold or change it? Yahweh is the only name I am aware of that is not a noun, it is a verb, I was , I am , I will always be. How tolerant should I be over having Yahwehs name changed to Lord 7000 times in Scripture? How tolerant should I be over others choosing to use Lord? Maybe I should just worry about myself?

2. The Son, Savior and Messiahs name is Yahshua, it means "Yahweh saves ". It is not and never has been Jesus, there is no "J",alphabetically or phonetically, in ancient Hebrew or Aramaic. Just because all copies of Scripture have a footnote stating Jesus means "God saves" does not make it so. How tolerant should I be over poor etymology, I mean my name is Sven, I am sure it sounds like Sven in every language once I have said it( maybe multiple times). 

  Do I tell believers who don't get the names right they are doomed?

3. Holy Ghost? Really? The true translation is "The Set Apart Spirit". Thats it. Holy tells me nothing, set apart means much. Not Holy Spirit, not Holy Ghost. Set Apart Spirit. There is a very good reason for me to hold ground on this one. Short and sweet. Do I chastise or do I teach through love?

4.  Thou shalt not commit adultery....I have written about this before. People really want to focus on what this commandment means on the surface, cheating on your spouse. Yes it shows poor character and a multitude of other human weaknesses. That is not what the commandment is about. Before I tell you what it is about let me prove it through our Saviors words. When he was asked what the most important commandment was he narrowed it down to two, breaking the commandments in half, the first five were about the Father and the second five were about our fellow man. The savior said "Love the Father with all your heart" and then "Love your neighbor as you would yourself".  The adultery commandments is in the first five, it is about cheating on Yahweh with the multitude of "Mystery Religions"in the world. How do you deliver that to people who think they know Scripture? Or maybe they are just lying....

5.Thou shalt not use Yahwehs name in vain.....This is not about poor grammar. I have written about this before as well. This is a clear warning to anyone who misleads Yahwehs beloved from him, mostly this is for the clerics, ministers, preachers, priests who consistently teach for their own profit, who tailor their sermons to fleece their flock, they cherry pick Chapter verse phrase and word in order to invoke an emotional out pouring of..........cash. There are those, however, who mislead by forcing and brow beating people. Yahweh did not win me over with a brow beating, he is sympathetic, empathic, sensitive loving and caring(did I forget omnipotent). If we are learned we have to teach by word and example, not by negative re-enforcement. There are people on the fence who could be shown "The Way" if shown by love. Remember every human is free. You can't win 'em all.

6. Christmas and Easter.....There are few places in Scripture where Feasts are addressed. Leviticus 23 is the best resourse. Here it is( with the Fathers name in Hebrew) You can scroll down, I put it in red as a reference...........

Leviticus 23

23:1 And  spake unto Moses, saying,
23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of , which ye shall proclaim to be set-apart convocations, even these are my feasts.
23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, a set-apart convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of  in all your dwellings.
23:4 These are the feasts of , even set-apart convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is 's passover.
23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto : seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
23:7 In the first day ye shall have a set-apart convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
23:8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto  seven days: in the seventh day is a set-apart convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
23:9 And  spake unto Moses, saying,
23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before , to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.
23:12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto .
23:13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto  for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
23:14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your Elohim: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete:
23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto .
23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto .
23:18 And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto , with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto .
23:19 Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.
23:20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before , with the two lambs: they shall be set-apart to  for the priest.
23:21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be a set-apart convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am  your Elohim.
23:23 And  spake unto Moses, saying,
23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a set-apart convocation.
23:25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto .
23:26 And  spake unto Moses, saying,
23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a set-apart convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto .
23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before  your Elohim.
23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
23:30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
23:31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
23:32 It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.
23:33 And  spake unto Moses, saying,
23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto .
23:35 On the first day shall be a set-apart convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
23:36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto : on the eighth day shall be a set-apart convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto : it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
23:37 These are the feasts of , which ye shall proclaim to be set-apart convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto , a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
23:38 Beside the Sabbaths of , and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto .
23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto  seven days: on the first day shall be a Sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath.
23:40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before  your Elohim seven days.
23:41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto  seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
23:42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
23:43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am  your Elohim.

23:44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of .

So where was Christmas? Easter? Not there. Do I even dare go there and start a war with "true believers"? If I were a legalist and wanted to start a revolution I could, just by pressing this point. Easter and Christmas are not called out. The two, however , are tied together and not in a "holy" way. I will stop on this subject here.....for now.

7. Christian. When the Dead Sea Scrolls were translated, in the New Covenant it was found that the word Christian was used only twice. Was it used to describe a new religion? No. It was used in the context of "Brethren". So is there really a "Christianity". I am being flip, of course there is....now. My definition would be a bit different. I would say there are different degrees of Judaism, from Orthodox to Messianic to Grafted on Messianic. I will concess to the definition of Christian, or maybe I should just castigate and chastise.......

8. The Cross. Do I even dare...of course truth trumps tradition. In the Greek text the word "stauros" is used as the implement of crucifixion. Stauros means pole. That is actually the correct description of the implement of crucifixion. There are two methods of crucifixion, one with a simple pole in the ground, person nailed with their arms straight up, or the "T"where the persons hands are nailed to the t and the feet to the post. It was never a cross.

9. Alcohol use. Many want to tell you alcohol was not used or approved of by our Father, wrong. One of the first mentions is with Abram when the high priest of Jerusalem, Melchizedek, broke bread and wine with him, the Hebrew word for wine was yayin, fermented wine not grape juice.  Yayin is used in the Hebrew text over 100 times. Noah drank it. Lott drank it. The Father told his people to enjoy yayin at the yearly festivals. Scripture makes it clear that there is a right way and wrong way to use drink. The word for strong drink is used over 20 times the word is "shekar". I know there are people who would like to have everyone practice abstinence, but lets be real, a Jewish wedding with grape juice, Yahshua made wine for the wedding not grape juice, the Greek word used in the New Covenant "oinos" is used for both fermented and unfermented wine. I think I made my point. Do I chastise those who use alcohol? Do I chastise those who chastise those who use alcohol? Neither are my place.

   My whole point with all this writing is to get people to understand that a a relationship with the Father is just like any relationship and requires time and effort on a personal level. When others interfere in negative ways the relationship can be destroyed. If you are learned and see someone struggling, be tender merciful and inviting not legalistic, judgmental and cold. If they are unresponsive back off a bit and watch for the right moment, wait be patient, the Father will let you know.