One Step Closer ...

to the building of the third temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Of course it will take a miracle for the temple to be built there, as there is a mosque of the satanic cult of Islam currently occupying the place. Still, G-d is in the miracle business, and this is the place where He placed His Name! (1 Kings 9:3)

The Temple Institute <opt-in@templeinstitute.org> wrote:

Date: 23 Dec 2005 02:10:02 -0000
Subject: The Blue Robe of the High Priest
From: The Temple Institute <opt-in@templeinstitute.org>

The Me'il Techelet- The Blue Robe of the High Priest Kislev 21, 5766/December 22, 2005 The Temple Institute is pleased to announce the completion of the me'il techelet - the Blue Robe - of the High Priest. This robe is the culmination of over three years of research and painstaking labor. But much more so, it is the fulfillment of a positive commandment - one that until now has stood unfulfilled since the destruction of the Second Holy Temple. This is the first time in nearly two thousand years that such a garment has been created. The blue robe is now on display at the Temple Institute's headquarters in Jerusalem, joining the completed ephod and breastplate of the High Priest. These garments can be viewed by the public until such time as they are called into service for the resumption of the priestly duties in the Holy Temple. New pictures of the robe can be seen by clicking here. "And you shall make the robe of the ephod entirely out of blue wool. Its head-opening shall be folded over within it, its opening shall have a border all around of weaver's work - it shall be for it like the opening of a coat of mail, that it should not be torn. And you shall make on its hem pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet wool, on its hem all around, and gold bells between them, all around; a gold bell and a pomegranate, a gold bell and a pomegranate, all around. It must be on Aaron in order to minister. Its sound shall be heard when he enters the Sanctuary before G-d and when he leaves, so that he not die" (Exodus 28:31-35). This last verse quoted above is difficult to understand: "Its sound shall be heard when he enters the Sanctuary before G-d and when he leaves, so that he not die." For it can be demonstrated that pure gold produces no sound. How can these golden bells be "heard when he enters the Sanctuary?" But in reality the meaning of the Hebrew word kolo is "his voice." The verse actually refers to the voice of the High Priest himself, who prays on behalf of himself and the nation of Israel within the Sanctuary. It is forbidden for the High Priest to enter the Sanctuary unless he is garbed completely in the full set of priestly garments. Any lacking of completeness in the High Priest's garments would render him liable in the eyes of Heaven, G-d forbid! His service in the holy place is actually invalid without the garments, which must be precisely as prescribed by the Torah, down to the last detail. Thus this verse actually conveys the thought that the blue robe, with its seventy two pomegranates and seventy two bells along its lower hem, completes the prescribed vestments and grants the High priest license to enter the Sanctuary, stand before the G-d of Israel, and address the Almighty, as a representative of the entire nation of Israel. Our prayer at the Temple Institute is that the completion of the blue robe will bring the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and the renewal of the Divine service one day closer. Meanwhile, we will press on with our efforts to fulfill G-d's commandments, continuing to prepare all of the garments and vessels for the time that they will be needed. ...snipped extraneous material... With blessings from Jerusalem, Rabbi Chaim Richman - Yitzchak Reuven The Temple Institute PO Box 31876 Jerusalem, Israel 97500 http://www.templeinstitute.org/

tags: Temple, eschatology

Click here for the full post.

The Reason for the Season

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Matthew 1:18-2:12

Matthew's narrative shows us the revelation of the news to the rich and powerful. In Luke's (see The Christmas Story (Part 2)), the revelation to the outcast, the poor, and the common people is highlighted. God's message of salvation is for everyone!

This is the second year that my local church has had the privilge (and responsibility!) to offer free gift wrapping in front of our local Wal-Mart store. The local Wal-Mart was willing to allow this because we do not charge a fee or solicit (or even accept freely offered) donations. Of course, when asked how and why we do this, we explain that it is the free gift of our church as inspired by the free gift of salvation that God has given us... the reason for the season.

There are many who would like to remove the "religious" aspects of the season. There are even some Christians who say we should abandon this pagan-originated, commercialized holiday. But I just praise God that He has sovereignly created this holiday. A time to soften the hearts of both the rich and the poor; and an obvious time for His children to get about doing His work!

Tag: Christmas

Click here for the full post.

You might be a Redneck if: You think you are good enough to go to heaven.

A friend sent me one of those silly e-mails that get circulated. The text was in big bold print.

Redneck
We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. It's time to take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, family, country and God.
If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up. Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- that's what rednecks are made of. I hope I am one of those. If you feel the same, pass this on to your redneck friends. Ya'll know who ya' are...

You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if: You still say "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival."

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a redneck if: You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an American flag.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

If you got this email from me, it is because I believe that you, like me, have just enough Red Neck in you to have the same beliefs as those talked about in this email.

God Bless the U SA !

Git 'er done!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rednecks still go to hell, if they don't have a personal relationship with our kinsman redeemer, Christ Jesus.

Espousing moral values and Biblical traditions is good. You may even be "more good" than those other (city folk, country folk, forieners, yankees, westerners, easterners, northerners, southerners, whatever) people. But God compares our best "good" (our self-righteousness) to used minstral cloths (Isaiah 64:6).

We all do what we think is right. Some have had their morals shaped by Biblical teaching, some by other philosophies. But what we think is right doesn't matter. There is a creator, to whom we are accountable. Who, by that account, has the right to judge the world and the people in it. What He thinks is right is what counts.

Fortunately, he has written us a book. We can tell His book from all the other "religious" books and writings because His' book both claims that it is true and it stands up to the test every time. (As opposed to the Koran, the book of Morman, the Papal Bulls, etc. all of which are full of contradictions and errors.) Study it for yourself, don't take my word or any other man's word for it.

Where I'm from, the majority of the people believe that they are good enough to go to heaven. God says, none of us are good enough to go to heaven. (Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23)

The price of our failure to be good enough is death. (Romans 5:12, Romans 6:23a)

However, God loves us even though we are fallen. He loves us so much that He offered His own Son as payment for our sins. (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Romans 5:18, Romans 6:23b)

All we have to do is accept this sacrifice and we can be made right with God our creator. (Romans 10:9-13)

After that, read the Bible and do what it says. Find a Bible-believeing, Bible-teaching Church for fellowship. And talk to God about your concerns, hopes, and fears (a.k.a. pray... prayer is merely talking to God).

If you've done all that in the past, check yourself. We are saved by grace through faith, not works. However, a faith that does not produce a change in your life and lead to spiritual fruit (good works) isn't a "saving" faith. (Read the book James.)

Tags: Redneck, Gospel

Click here for the full post.

Testimony

I grew up attending a dead church. Most Sundays, I didn’t want to go. Sometimes I would remember the other children, who I liked; or perhaps the hollow approval of Sunday school, where I could show off my superior knowledge (a product of being taught in a Christian School during the week). I was the smugly arrogant know-it-all. Even when I had a thought for the others, where I would be willing to let them have time to try to answer the teacher’s questions, it just became another opportunity to show how much smarter I was. I waited while they squirmed to be released from the pending question, to which they neither knew nor cared to know the answer. Then finally I would consent to share my wisdom with the teacher, preferably in a manner that let everyone know that I knew the answer all along. What was frustrating to me were the many times that the teachers were wrong, or had only a shallow understanding of what they were teaching. This was true both in Sunday school and High School. The Bible was just another subject that I had to learn. Not that I had any deep understanding of the Bible, it didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. But that wasn’t too troubling, as I could tell it didn’t make a whole lot of sense to any of my classmates either.

We were Christians. We had to be, as our whole class was converted in Kindergarten by our teacher. She was strict, and forced us little heathens to convert to Christianity via scare tactics. She said mean and scary things, but she would stop if I said some “prayer”. So I said some prayer, which I didn’t mean or even understand, out of fear and the desire to be left alone. Voila, I was a “Christian”. As far as I know, she had a 100% “success” rate! (Success, that is, at emotionally beating “confessions of faith” out of heathen kindergarten children.) I do remember one thing fondly from this person. She taught the class a song that has been with me ever since (it was a painful process). I seem to recall that she wanted to teach us to sing all 14 verses, but she either gave up, or I’ve blocked the rest from my memory.

Great is the Lord,
And greatly to be praised
In the city of our God,
In the mountain of his holiness.

Beautiful for situation,
The joy of the whole earth,
Is mount Zion, on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
(Psalm 48:1-2)

Speaking of mental and emotional torture, forcing a child to sit through an adult Sunday church service is severely such. I remember, counting the light fixtures, counting the ceiling beams, playing with toy cars, playing connect-the-dots with my brother on the church bulletin (The absolute highest purpose of church bulletins, for a child!). Later on, passing notes written on the church bulletin, and fantasying about evil men breaking in during the service and gunning down the preacher, so I could heroically save everyone to the adoration of one, or another, of the young women in attendance. When Jesus taught that children should be allowed to come to Him, I’m sure He had no desire to torture them with adult services! Even as a teenager, when I was in the choir, and I had to learn to look awake (as we actually stayed behind the preacher), I learned to escape. I did, actually try to listen to his words, and what he taught. But most of it was inane banalities having little to do with real life. It’s a sad thing; that church gave me a Bible for graduation, but I never needed to bring one there.

That was Sundays, during the week I faced school. There was a weekly chapel. We sang songs, and it was short. There were often skits, music, dramatic readings, and other entertainments of a “Christian” nature. Very rarely, the principle would speak. Even as an unregenerate person, I knew there was no power in his teaching. (Later on he was caught in his sin, and lost everything. Pray for him, God can forgive even the most heinous sins.) But he was idolized by (at least part of) the faculty. How odd, it seemed to me. It really pointed out the hollowness and hypocrisy of Christianity, even over the mindlessness of the Sunday service that I was forced to attend. (As it has been said, “I had a drug problem as a child. I was drug to church every Sunday!”)

My church had a children’s choir, a youth ministry group that would go and sing at other churches. Later on, I did the same with the school. I must have attended dozens of revivals; suffered through dozens of altar calls; sang hundreds of choruses of “Just as I Am”

Just as I am, without one plea
but that Thy blood was shed for me.
And that Thou bid'st me come
to Thee, oh Lamb of God I come, I come.

I was affected. Often these emotional altar calls, with the hypnotic repetitions of a simple chorus, tugged at me. Whether I was in the choir loft, or in a pew, I felt the “tugging” on my heart that the preacher talked about, but I stayed seated. While the choir loft emptied, and the people in the pews came forward, I would say in my heart, “not today, I’m not ready, I’m afraid”. Somewhere along the line I had figured out that I wasn’t a Christian. But then again, I came to see that most of these so-called “Christians” who I went to church and school with were no better than me, even worse in many cases. But there were a few, a single classmate and a handful of teachers, who seemed to have the “real thing”. I didn’t understand the difference.

So I graduated. I had joined the military before hand, because “I was going to make my own way.” Or as my dad sagely told my mom, “Let the boy make his own mistakes.” My first experience of the real word! Boy did the real world have a foul mouth! Boot camp (even Marine Corp boot camp) is mostly a mental thing. Once I figured out how to “play the game” it became much easier. There were “divine” services which we were “encouraged” to attend. This was rather like the school chapel services (but designed for young men); some entertainment, via singing rousing hymns followed by an encouraging sermonette that had little to do with Jesus. After boot camp, I got caught up in the cares of this world… I did what seemed right to me. I shed whatever things I had been taught that were inconvenient to me. I never bothered to attend a church; they were basically a waste of time. I eventually left the service, I was discontented and not really handling the responsibility of the rank that I had achieved.

Once I got out of the service, I played the self-righteous, hypocrite. Pretending to be a Christian, even though I knew I wasn’t. Years of church and school helped me make some of the believers around me unsure. I “knew” more of the Bible than they did, (had forgotten more than they had ever learned,) even if I didn’t really understand it. Finally, I admitted my charade to a believer (who actually understood many of the things that I merely “knew”). She challenged me to re-read Romans… I took up the challenge and was stifled by the stilted English used in the King James Version. So she bought me a more modern translation. Once I began to read it, it began to make sense for the first time. Over a period of time, I began to see my own hypocrisy and met some Christians who, while they were not perfect, they also were not hypocrites. Finally, one morning I got to chapter 10.

⁸But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: ⁹That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
(Romans 10:8-10 NIV)

I didn’t immediately give my heart and life to the Lord Jesus, but I finally understood these words! It was a revelation to me, so after a few days of reflection and thought I finally did believe in my heart (I had believed in my head for many years, and believed that I was destined to Hell.) And I confessed with my mouth that Jesus is Lord!

Then God gave me a hunger for His Word, and the desire for prayer. He immediately fixed my foul mouth and soon put a desire to be baptized in my heart, which led me to the church I currently attend. I was still very carnal, am still very carnal; but I’m growing!
Praise God!

Tags: Testimony, Gospel

Click here for the full post.

Offensive

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 9:33 KJV

The story: FOXNews.com - Politics - Judge Bars Indiana Legislature from Christian Prayers details the removal of "Christian" elements from official prayers (offensive words like "savior" or "Jesus Christ"). It's alright for Islamists to pray in the name of Allah, or Wiccans to pray to the "goddess", but how dare the Christians pray their "exclusive" prayer! (It is claimed Christianity is "exclusive" because we believe that Jesus Christ is the only way... but we are exceptionally inclusive because that way is open to any who will believe.)

This is just the latest assault on Free Speech as it relates to Christians. I wonder how long until it will be illegal to espouse Biblical Christianity in public? Ray Comfort and Emeal "EZ" Zwayne have been barred from speaking to people outside of their local courthouse. You can read about that case here. The latest update to their story is available through this newsletter, here.

That's convicting, I have difficulty speeking to people about the Lord Jesus and I don't face court action... yet.

Tags: Offensive, Christianity, Free Speech

Click here for the full post.

God Hates Divorce

¹⁴You cry out, "Why has the LORD abandoned us?" I'll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made to each other on your wedding day when you were young. But you have been disloyal to her, though she remained your faithful companion, the wife of your marriage vows. ¹⁵Didn't the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard yourself; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. ¹⁶"For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "So guard yourself; always remain loyal to your wife."
Malachi 2:14-16 (NLT)

This was written to the people of Israel around 400 years before the Messiah arrived on the scene. At the time of the Lord Jesus' earthly ministry, divorce was nearly as rampant as it is in modern America. They had taken man's traditions (the Talmud) and used it to counter God's Word (Matthew 15:3-6 and Mark 7:5-13). How much worse we have become in the U.S.A. We just blindly ignore God's Commandments, purposely toss them out. Even in our churches (which are supposed to be teaching the Word of God) there is no difference between the divorce rates of members and of those who are not. Why? Because instead of teaching God's Word, most of our churches teach a philosophy, or the current "Christian best-seller" (the Holy Bible is the penultimate "best-seller", why not teach it?)

Do you want to change the divorce rate? Do you want children to stop having pre-marital sex (Psalm 199:9), with the attendant teen pregnancy, abortion, and children growing up without their father (the number one commonality of the prison population in America)? Teach the Bible at Church (then at Home, and then it might even be taught in public forums again!)

Tags: Bible, Divorce, social change

Click here for the full post.

Ouch! Praise God!

I'm still pretty much a newbie Christian (should be obvious :-). Anyway, something occurred to me when I stubbed my toes last night, walking half-asleep to the bathroom in the dark. "... All things work together for good to those who love God, and are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Actually, in proper order, I stumbled half-asleep into my computer bag and thought, "Ouch... Praise God!" In my half-asleep wandering to the bathroom, my brain was caught up in all the concerns and worries of the previous day, the shock of the stubbing cleared my mind, and I was left with a sense of peace, the feeling that God wanted to reassure me. Half remembered verses like Romans 8:28 came to mind. When I lay back down, I was praising God because I knew that it was only His work that I wasn't cursing and swearing after stubbing my toes.

"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17) And "Commit your works to the LORD and your thoughts shall be established." (Proverbs 16:3).

What can you do? First get right with God. This means accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord, the ruler of your life. Then walk in it; if Jesus is the master of your life, then do the things He tells you to do. Start this by reading the Love Letter/Life Manual He wrote to you... the Bible regularly and often. Find a Bible believing and Bible teaching church (if the pastor teaches entirely from the Bible, you search what he says and compare that with the rest of Scripture, and his teaching is consistent with God's word, then you will have likely found a good church) and attend regularly and often. And try to pray... regularly and often. (Hint: you can pray while driving your car; just please don't close your eyes!)

And you will find yourself, stubbing your toes one morning and praising God for it!

Tags: Praise, Gospel

Click here for the full post.