Month: February 2013

  • MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES

    FOR AS LABOUR CANNOT PRODUCE WITHOUT THE USE OF LAND, THE DENIAL OF THE EQUAL RIGHT TO THE USE OF LAND IS NECESSARILY THE DENIAL OF THE RIGHT LABOUR TO ITS OWN PRODUCT. HENRY GEORGE, PROGRESS AND PROVERTY, VIII Bro. Doc

  • JOKES

    They were soooooo stupid

    ..They took a ruler to bed to see how long they slept.
    ..They sent me a fax with a stamp on it.
    ..They thought a quarterback was a refund.
    ..They tried to put M&M's in alphabetical order.
    ..They thought Boyz II Men was a day care center.
    ..They thought Eartha Kitt was a set of garden tools.
    ..They thought General Motors was in the Army.
    ..They thought Meow Mix was a CD for cats.
    ..They thought TuPac Shakur was a Jewish holiday.
    ..Under "education" on their job application, they put "Hooked On Phonics."
    ..They tripped over a cordless phone.
    ..They spent 20 minutes looking at the orange juice can because it said "concentrate."

    Not the brightest bulbs in the lamp

    ..They told me to meet them at the corner of "WALK" and "ONE WAY."
    ..at the bottom of the application where it says "sign here", they put "Sagittarius."
    ..They asked for a price check at the Dollar Store.
    ..They studied for a blood test.
    ..They thought they needed a token to get on "Soul Train."
    ..They sold the car for gas money!
    ..when they missed the 44 bus, they took the 22 bus twice instead.
    ..when they went to the airport and saw a sign that said "Airport Left," they turned around and went home.
    ..when they heard that 90% of all crimes occur around the home, they moved.
    ..They think Taco Bell is the Mexican phone company.
    ..if they spoke her mind, they'd be speechless.
    ..They thought that they could not use their AM radio in the evening.
    ..They had a shirt that said "TGIF," which they thought stood for: This Goes In Front.

    How it all began

    In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot. And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she had been called Amazon Dot Com.

    She said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why doth thou travel far from town to town with thy goods when thou can trade without ever leaving thy tent?" And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said, "How, Dear?"

    And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale and they will reply telling you which hath the best price. And the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."

    Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. The drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever moving from his tent. But this success did arouse envy.

    A man named Maccabia did secret himself inside Abraham's drum and was accused of insider trading. And the young man did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Siderites, or NERDS for short.

    And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums, that no one noticed that the real riches were going to the drum maker, one Brother William of Gates, who bought up every drum company in the land. And indeed did insist on making drums that would work only with Brother Gates' drumheads and drumsticks.

    Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others." And as Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel, or as it came to be known "eBay" he said, "we need a name that reflects what we are," and Dot replied, "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators." "YAHOO", said Abraham.

    And that is how it all began. It wasn't Al Gore after all.

    Saving All The Seats

    A man lay sprawled across three entire seats in the posh theatre. When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the man, "Sorry, sir, but you're only allowed one seat." The man groaned but didn't budge. The usher became impatient. "Sir, if you don't get up from there I'm going to have to call the manager." Again, the man just groaned, which infuriated the usher who turned and marched briskly back up the aisle in search of his manager.

    In a few moments, both the usher and the manager returned and stood over the man. Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move him, but with no success. Finally, they summoned the police. The cop surveyed the situation briefly then asked, "All right buddy, what's your name?"

    "Sam," the man moaned.

    "Where ya from, Sam?"

    With pain in his voice Sam replied, "The balcony."

  • The Festival of Lights on the Jewish Calendar (Purim) Begins 2-24-13 Right After Twilight the 23rd

    At the end of the Sabbath (2-23-13) Beginning of the First Day (Sun) (2-24-13) is the Purim, The Festival of Lights.
    I understand the theme this year is A Call To Courage.
    For all our Jewish Brethren that will celebrate this day, I wish to say Happy Purim.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    “Blow the shofar in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.… Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the cohanim (priests), who minister before the LORD, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, ‘Spare your people, LORD.’” (Joel 2:15–17)
     
    One of the most joyous of all Jewish celebrations, Purim (Festival of Lots), will begin this Saturday at twilight (end of 23rd, beginning of 24th,13).
     
    In preparation for this fun, boisterous holiday that celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from annihilation in the ancient Persian Empire, observant Jewish adults will fast tomorrow from daybreak to nightfall, to commemorate Esther's three-day fast.
     
     

    Queen Esther, by Edwin Long
     
     
    Purim: Evil Plans and the Courage to Expose Them
     
    The story of Purim is recorded in the Book of Esther (Megillat Esther). This wonderful book essentially has three main characters: Esther and her cousin Mordecai, the heroes of the story, and Haman, the villain who wickedly plots to destroy the Jewish People.
     
    Esther, an orphan who had been raised in Persia by her cousin Mordecai, is a beautiful, young Jewish woman. When Vashti, the Queen of Persia, falls out of favor with Ahasuerus, King of Persia, Esther becomes part of his harem.
     
    The hidden hand of God is at work in her life in the king’s harem, and he falls head over heels in love with her. He loves her so much, in fact, that he singles her out to be his queen.
     
    The king does not know, however, that Esther is a Jew, since Mordecai had advised her not to reveal her identity.
     
     

    The Triumph of Mordechai, by Pieter Lastman
     
    Although Mordecai is wise and loyal to the king, the king’s adviser (the villain Haman), hates him because Mordecai refuses to bow down to this proud, haughty man. As a Jew, Mordecai can bow to no one. Enraged, Haman plots to destroy the Jewish people. (Esther 3:1–5)
     
    Haman unfolds his evil scheme to King Ahasuerus in Esther 3:8:
     
    "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your realm. Their laws are different from those of every other people's, and they do not observe the king's laws; therefore it is not befitting the king to tolerate them."
     
    The king accepts Haman’s counsel and hands over the fate of the Jewish People to him.  He then makes plans to exterminate all of the Jews. (Sound familiar?)
     
     

    During World War II, Hitler tried to exterminate
    the Jewish People in Europe. By the time the war
    was over, six million Jews had perished.
    In the above photo, recently taken at Auschwitz,
    ont of Hitler's death camp, adults and youth alike take a
    stand against anti-Semitism, racism and indifference
    during the annual March of the Living.
     
     
    If I Perish, I Perish
     
    Mordecai counsels Esther to save the Jewish People by courageously visiting the king and pleading on their behalf, telling her that she has probably risen to the position as queen for this very purpose.
     
    “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
     
    Going in to the king, of course, may seem like the logical thing to do, but it actually will put Esther’s life in immediate danger.
     
    Even though she is queen, she cannot come into the king’s presence without his first summoning her. She knows she may be put to death if she shows up uninvited.
     
     

    Esther before Ahasuerus
     
    Though the name of God is not mentioned in the Book of Esther, we see by Esther’s preparation to come into the presence of the king, that she commits her ways to the Lord:
     
    "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16)
     
    She fasts for three days before going to the king, and when she enters his presence, she finds his grace, instead of his wrath.
     
    In a series of comical twists and turns (you’ll have to read Esther to find out what they are), God humbles the proud and exalts the lowly who trust in Him.
     
    Esther, the Jewish orphan who rose to become a Persian Queen, finally has the opportunity to expose Haman and save the Jewish People from his savage plot to destroy them.
     
     

    Because hidden identities is a strong theme in the Book of Esther, it is
    traditional to wear costumes on Purim.  These young Jewish girls are
    participating in a Purim parade in Israel.
     
     
     
     
    Purim Festivities: A Fun Time for All
     
    On this fun Jewish holiday, we are called to feast, rejoice and give gifts to one another and to the poor.
     
    Although Purim is not included as one of the Biblical Feasts of the Lord, it is a custom mandated by Mordechai:
     
    “Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews … near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.
     
    “He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” (Esther 9:20–22)
     
     

    A Jewish boy is delighted with his Purim basket
    (mishloach manot)     filled with ready to eat goodies.
     
    Traditional Purim customs include reading of the entire scroll of Esther in the synagogues, dressing up in costume, cheering at the mention of the hero and heroine, Mordechai and Esther, and booing the villain, Haman. (Boo!)
     
    The Jewish people also send gifts to one another called mishloach manot and eat triangular cookies called oznei haman (ears of Haman) or hamantaschen (in Yiddish).
     
     

    A Jewish girl dressed as Esther places oznei haman in a
    Purim basket. Yummy!
     
     
    Purim: More than a Time to Remember
     
    While Purim is a time to remember God’s deliverance of the Jewish People from anti-Semitic forces in Persia about 2,500 years ago, it is also a time to remember that enemies have risen against the Jewish People in every age.
     
    Purim, however, is more than a time to remember. It is also a time for Believers around the world to heed the call of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to rise up like Esther on behalf of the Jewish People.
     
    Today, there are forces in modern-day Persia (Iran) that again seek to annihilate Israel. Perhaps the modern-day equivalent to Haman is Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but there are others.
     
    Haman, as a type of anti-Messiah, not only hates the Jewish People with a venomous passion, but all those who refuse to bow their knee to the kingdom of darkness.
     
     

    An ultra-Orthodox Jewish father and his son are dressed
    in Purim costumes (perhaps as Mordechai) as they walk
    through the narrow streets of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem.
    They are carrying mishloach manot (Purim baskets/ gifts).
     
     
    Mordechai and the Leading of God’s Spirit
     
    In Purim’s call to action, there are some subtle parallels between Mordechai and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).
     
    As Mordechai implored Queen Esther to plead for the Jewish People before King Ahasuerus, the Ruach HaKodesh is calling to those who follow Yeshua (Jesus) to plead with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to save Israel from those with murderous agendas against her.
     
    We must remember, however, that the battle is ultimately not with flesh and blood, but with principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness—spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. (Ephesians 5:12)
     
    Yeshua called us to pray for our enemies, and therefore, even as we seek God’s deliverance of Israel, we also pray for the salvation of those who are now enemies of the Jewish People, of Israel and even of God Himself.
     
    This is not a time for true Believers, the Bride of Messiah, to remain silent. We cannot be complacent and think that we are safe simply because we are in the King’s house.
     
    The forces that seek to destroy the Jews also have in their evil plans to annihilate all of God’s people, including Christians.
     
     

    An Israel Defense Forces soldier handing out Purim gifts to at-risk
    children at a daycare in Israel.
     
     
     
     
    Mordechai: A Picture of the Holy Spirit
     
    Many other, interesting parallels can be drawn in the Book of Esther between the Ruach HaKodesh and Mordechai.
     
    For instance, Mordechai seems to have one real task and that is to raise Esther to maturity.
     
    He instructs, teaches, leads and guides her, directing her when to speak and when to remain silent. (Esther 2:10; 4:14)
     
    Similarly, it is the Ruach HaKodesh that faithfully continues the work that has begun in us, leading and guiding us, bringing us to maturity and preparing us to be a beautiful Bride without spot or blemish.
     
    Mordechai faithfully watches over Esther, the bride of the king. He stands outside the gate; hovering over her to make sure she is kept safe. (Esther 2:11)
     
     

    An Israeli girl dressed as Queen Esther on Purim
     
    Likewise, the Ruach (Spirit) of God hovered over the waters at creation, and he hovers over each of us to keep a protective watch.
     
    Mordechai is privy to secret information (such as the plot against the king), just as the Ruach knows all deep and secret things of the hearts of men.
     
    Mordechai intercedes for God’s people with cries and groaning. (Esther 4:1) The Ruach also intercedes for us, even when we don’t know what to pray.
     
    “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:26–27)
     
    Like the partnership between the Holy Spirit and the Body of Messiah, Mordechai partners with Esther to carry out the authority of the King in saving the Jewish people from destruction.
     
     

    Mordecai writing the first Purim Letter, by Aert de Gelder
     
     
    Esther: A Picture of the Body of Messiah
     
    On the surface, the Book of Esther has some simple lessons, but digging deeper, it also reveals some surprising mysteries.
     
    The heroine, Esther, seems to reflect the Bride of Messiah (His followers) in several ways:
     
    In contrast to Queen Vashti, who was rebellious to her husband and King, occupied with her own "agenda" and, therefore, banished from the kingdom, Esther proved herself to be obedient to Mordechai (who typifies the Ruach HaKodesh) and to the king’s servant Hegai. (Esther 2:20)
     
    In a similar way, the world is occupied with its own agendas, wealth, and prestige. But followers of Messiah are occupied with obeying and serving their Lord and Savior, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).
     
    Esther submitted herself to a prolonged preparation time before being brought into the king. She was anointed with oil of myrrh (which is symbolic of suffering, cleansing, healing, and anointing), as well as beautifying preparations and perfumes. (Esther 2:12) Esther desired to please the king, and therefore, over all the other women seeking to be elevated to the position of queen, she was chosen as his bride.
     
    Believers continuously prepare to meet Messiah Yeshua. This process begins with the anointing of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), who washes and renews us (Titus 3:5), brings us into unity (Ephesians 4:3) and enables us to obey the truth (1 Peter 1:22), among other important works.
     
     

    Scroll of Esther
     
    Esther was faithful, beautiful, pure, and courageous—even to the point of being willing to lose her life to save her brethren. in carrying out the leading of her benefactor, Mordechai.
     
    With the help of the Ruach (Spirit), the Bride of Messiah is called to be faithful to God's word, beautiful and pure in spirit, and courageous in sharing the truth of who Yeshua is. As a result of their courage, many Believers suffer severe persecution, even death.
     
    Esther relied on God and not her own talents and natural abilities. She sought God through fasting and prayer before embarking on a courageous plan of action.
     
    So, too, Believers know they cannot accomplish anything for the kingdom of God without relying totally on God's leading and protection.
     
    Esther carried the full authority of the King and the seal of his signet ring to issue decrees that cannot be revoked. (Esther 8:8)
     
    Likewise, Yeshua gave His followers the authority to defeat the works of the enemy. (Luke 10:19)
     
     

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara participate
    in a Purim party in Jerusalem that is held in honor of children with cancer.
     
     
    God’s Watchmen Stand against Haman
     
    As Purim is kept with great joy this Saturday night and Sunday, remember Esther’s bravery in rising up and speaking out on behalf of the Jewish People.
     
    It takes courage to resist the "Hamans" of this world and stand firm against popular opinion in our culture, which is most often opposed to God and righteousness.
     
    In these end times, it will take courage to count the cost and say with Esther, "If I perish, I perish."
     
    Nevertheless, now is not the time to remain silent.
     
     

    An Orthodox Jewish man overlooks the Western
    (Wailing) Wall Plaza in Jerusalem.
     
    A poem attributed to Martin Niemoeller, an influential Lutheran pastor from World War II, who was arrested and imprisoned in the Dachau concentration camp for withdrawing his support of Hitler, illustrates the importance of challenging hatred and injustice:
     

    They came first for the communists,
    And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist.
    Then they came for the Jews.
    And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
    Then they came for the trade unionists,
    And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
    Then they came for the Catholics,
    And I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.
    Then they came for me,
    And by that time, no one was left to speak up.

     

    The Walls of Jerusalem
     
    The Prophet Isaiah called upon the watchmen to cry out to God day and night on behalf of Zion and for Jerusalem’s sake. (Isaiah 62:1)
     
    While the Hebrew word for watchman or guard can be a “shomer,” it can also be “notzer.”
     
    This comes from the same root as Notzri, the Hebrew word for Christian – as in the followers of Yeshua of Natzeret (Jesus of Nazareth).
     
    True followers of Yeshua are called to be watchmen on the walls on behalf of Israel and the Jewish People, especially in these end times, as multiple Hamans arise calling for Israel’s destruction.
     
    “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.” (Isaiah 62:1)
     
     
     


     
     
     
     

  • DEVOTIONAL LANCASTER BAPTIST CHURCH

     


     
     

    The Rewards of Diligence

    By Paul Chappell
     
     
     
      Thursday, Feb 21, 2013

    "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want."

    Proverbs 21:5

    When the Civil War began, one of those who answered the call for soldiers to fight for the Union was William Scott of Vermont. Along with four of his brothers, the young soldier traveled to Washington to join the Army of the Potomac. On the night of August 31, 1861, Scott, who had volunteered to take the sentry duty of a sick member of his company, was found asleep at his post guarding the bridge that lead to the nation’s capital. According to military law, the “sleeping sentinel” as he came to be known was tried and sentenced to be executed on September 9 by firing squad.

    The harsh punishment was meant to be a warning to those given positions of responsibility to be diligent and careful in discharging them. Yet it also seemed too harsh for a young man who had volunteered for duty. The case was brought to President Lincoln, who personally issued a pardon to Private Scott. Scott gave his pledge that he would never again fail in his duty to his country. Seven months later during a battle at Lee’s Mills, Virginia, Scott, who had already saved several fellow soldiers from drowning, was shot and killed while carrying another wounded soldier to safety. His renewed commitment to diligently do his duty replaced his shame with honor.

    In a world where “close enough for government work” is a common excuse for giving less than our best effort, diligence is a vital trait we need to cultivate. In every arena of our lives—work, family, and even worship—we need to be focused on excellence and completing what we are doing to the very best of our ability without allowing anything to distract us. God rewards those who are willing to make this commitment to diligence.

    Today’s Proverbs Precept: 
    If you are careful to do your best in every situation, you will receive both temporal and eternal blessings.

    Old Testament Reading
    Numbers 1

    CHAPTER 1

    1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; 3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers. 5 And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur. 6 Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 7 Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 8 Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 9 Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon. 10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 11 Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni. 12 Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 13 Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran. 14 Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 15 Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan. 16 These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.

    17 And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names: 18 And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls. 19 As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai. 20 And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 21 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred. 22 Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 23 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 24 Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 25 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty. 26 Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 27 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. 28 Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 29 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 30 Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 31 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. 32 Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 33 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred. 34 Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 35 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 36 Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 37 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred. 38 Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 39 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 40 Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 41 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. 42 Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 43 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

    44 These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers. 45 So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel; 46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

    47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. 48 For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying, 49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel: 50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. 51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts. 53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony. 54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

     

    CHAPTER 2

    1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.

    3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah. 4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. 5 And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. 6 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 7 Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun. 8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. 9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth. 10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur. 11 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred. 12 And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 13 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. 15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty. 16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank. 17 Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards. 18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud. 19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred. 20 And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred. 24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank. 25 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 27 And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran. 28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. 29 Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. 30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred. 31 All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards. 32 These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. 33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses. 34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

    New Testament Reading
    Mark 3:1

    1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. 7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, 8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. 9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. 10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. 11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. 12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

    13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: 16 And Simon he surnamed Peter; 17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: 18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, 19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

    Proverb of the Day
    Proverbs 21

    1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. 5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. 6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. 7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. 8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right. 9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. 10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. 11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. 12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. 13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. 15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. 17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. 18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. 19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. 20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. 21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. 22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. 24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. 25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? 28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. 29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. 30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

    		  
           
       
     

  • INSPIRATION QUOTES

    Motivational Quote of the Day…

    "Every failure is a step to success."

    William Whewell

    Love Quote of the Day…

    “Love consists in this, that two solitudes protect and border and salute each other.”

    Rainer Maria Rilke

  • T&M HOW DO YOU MAKE A DEAD MAN SEE?

    Do you remember times as a child when you did something wrong and thought no one was watching--but then you got caught? Do you remember how it felt to realize that someone had been watching you all along? What horror and dread to be caught in the middle of the act!

    You couldn't lie your way out of such a situation, especially when someone was watching you the whole time. You were unmistakably guilty and couldn't escape facing your sin. Can you remember what it was like to feel so exposed?

    This is what a sinner feels like the first time the Holy ghost convicts him of sin. Before that happens, it is amazing how long the same sinner can live without conviction or sorrow for his behavior, almost numb to any sense of the wrongness of his actions.

    The Scripture says that sin makes people hardhearted, spiritually blind, and past feeling (Eph 4:18-19). Add this to the fact that they are spiritually dead and therefore unable to respond to Yahvah, and you will better understand why lost people can do what they do over and over again.

    But all these factors change instantaneously when the Holy Ghost touches the human soul and exposes its sinful condition. A sinner feels exposed, naked, embarrassed, and confronted when the Holy Ghost wakes him up to his real spiritual condition.

    In Jn 16:8 Yahvah spoke of this exposing work of the Holy Ghost. He told the disciples, "And when he (the Holy Ghost) is come, he will reprove the world of sin..."

    Notice what Yahvahosha said the Holy Ghost would reprove the world of sin. The word "reprove" is the Greek word elegcho. It means to expose, or to convict, or to cross-examine for the purpose of conviction, as when convicting a lawbreaker in a court of law. In this case, it is the image of a lawyer who brings forth evidence that is indisputable and undeniable. The accused person's actions are irrefutably brought to light and as a result, the offender is exposed and convicted.

    This tells us that by the time the Holy Ghost is finished dealing with a lost, sinful soul, the unsaved person will feel exposed and convicted. As the Holy Ghost enables him to hear the Word of Yahvah for the time, that Word is so razor sharp that it penetrates his soul until he feels as if he has been cross-examined on a witness stand. Finally, the court adjourned, the verdict is announced, and he is declared guilty.

    Jn 15:8 expresses this idea about the "convicting" work of the Holy Ghost: "But when the Holy Ghost is come, He will present such convincing evidence about the world's sin that the entire world will stand guilty and convicted--so exposed that they will have nowhere to hide from the facts..."

    A major part of the world of the Holy Ghost to convict sinners of that lost condition. The whole world stands guilty before Yahvah (Ro 3:19), but until the Holy Ghost does His convicting work, the world doesn't realize it is guilty. That is why this special "convicting" work of the Spirit is so essential. Without it, mankind would remain comfortable in his sin--but as the Holy Ghost convicts, man becomes aware of his sinful condition and his need for Yahvah.

    Yahvahosha taught, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him..." (Jn 6:44). Nol one argues that Yahvah draws us to Him through the work of the Holy Ghost, Yahvahosha reminds us of this when He said, "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin..." (Jn 16:8). It is just  a fact that without the work of the Holy Ghost to expose out sinful condition, we would still be in darkness today, eternally lost and without Yahvah.

    Let me give you an example of what I am talking about. Have you tried to share Messiah with family members or friends and felt as if you were "hitting a brick wall?" You shared, talked, and plead with them to receive Messiah: yet it seemed like they just couldn't hear what you were saying. Even though they knew they were sinners, they didn't seem to be convicted by this knowledge. Ignoring that horrible fact, they pressed on as though they were numb of the degree of spiritual decay in their lives.

    The Scripture says that the lost person is "dead in trespasses and sin" (Eph 2:1). How can you make a dead man see or feel? How can you convince a dead man that he needs to change? It is impossible for a dead man to respond because dead people don't feel anything. They especially don't feel the conviction of sin. It requires a special, supernatural work of the Holy Ghost to rouse the human consciousness to its sinful condition.

    Thanks to the Holy Ghost's call that touched our souls, we were awakened to our sinfulness. Once we were brought to this horrible place of undeniable conviction where we recognized that we were sinners, the Holy Ghost then beckoned us to come to Yahvahosha. At that divine moment, our souls heard Him say, "...Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Messiah will give thee light." (Eph 5:14).

    As you begin to share Messiah with your family and friends, first stop and ask the Holy ghost to go before you, to touch their hearts, and to open their eyes and ears to the truth so they might be supernaturally roused from the spiritual deadness that clutches their lives. Let the Holy Ghost be your Partner, for without His help, a sinner is unable to see the truth. But when the Holy Ghost's convicting work begins, the sinner's eyes are open to his true spiritual condition, and he realizes that there is no escape from the facts. The only answer for a sinner in this case is to come to Yahvahosha!

    There is no greater miracle than a sinner who sees the light for the first time and then receives Yahvahosha Messiah as the Saviour of his life. And there is no greater blessing than to know that, with the help of the Holy Ghost's convicting power, you helped a dead man see!

    PRAYER: YAHVAH, THANK YOU FOR THE CONVICTING POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST, FOR IT WAS THIS ACT OF THE SPIRIT THAT FIRST BROUGHT ME TO THE PLACE OF SALVATION. WHEN I DO WRONG AND THE HOLY GHOST CONVICTS ME OF WHAT I HAVE DONE, HELP ME BE SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE THAT HE IS PRICKING MY HEART TO GET MY ATTENTION. HELP ME SLOW DOWN TO SEE WHAT HE IS WANTING TO SHOW ME AND TO TAKE THE NECESSARY TIME TO PROPERLY REPENT AND DEAL WITH THE ISSUES HE IS WANTING ME TO CHANGE. I PRAY THIS IN YAHVAHOSHA'S NAME!

    MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

    I confess that I am sensitive to the Holy Ghost and live a live that pleases Him. But when I fail to do what is right, I am sensitive to His voice and quickly repent for the wrong I have done. My heart's desire is to please Him, and I will do everything I can to live a life that honors His Presence inside me. I declare this by faith in Yahvahosha's Name!

    QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

    1.How has the convicting power of the Holy Ghost transformed you since you first received Yahvahosha as Saviour?

    2.Who are five people you can ask the Holy Ghost to touch today with His convicting power of repentance and salvation?

    3.Have you thanked Yahvah recently for the Holy Ghost's working in your heart to convict you of sin and keep you pure and powerful for the Saviour's use? Bro. Doc

  • MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES

    WE LABOR SOON, WE LABOR LATE, TO FEED THE TITLED KNAVE, MAN; AND A' THE COMFORT WE'RE TO GET IS THAT AYONT THE GRAVE MAN. BURNS, THE TREE OF LIBERTY. BRO. DOC


       
     
     
     
         
           
       
     

  • DEVOTIONAL LANCASTER BAPTIST CHURCH

     


     
     

    Be a Peacemaker

    By Paul Chappell
     
     
     
      Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013

    "It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling."

    Proverbs 20:3

    Several church members commented on how bitter the coffee was that Sunday morning at the Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church in New Sweden, Maine, in 2003. Soon a number of them became violently ill, and one elderly member died. When a police investigation began, another church member, fifty-three-year-old Danny Bondeson killed himself, leaving behind a suicide note apologizing for what he had done.

    Bondeson and his family had apparently donated a new table for use in the communion observance, but some of the members of the church objected to replacing the one they had used for so many years. In anger, Bondeson placed arsenic in the church coffee pot. He claimed he only wanted to make people sick to get even for what he felt was his mistreatment rather than to kill anyone, but his refusal to make peace and forgive cost two people their lives.

    In any situation in which we have been wronged or offended, we face the choice between holding a grudge and forgiving. But peace requires more than forgiveness—it requires that we work at restoring the relationship as much as is possible. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). The clear implication here is that peace requires effort and work. Peace does not come naturally in response to the offenses of life.

    Part of making peace is putting the past behind us. That is an integral part of ceasing from strife. If we are harboring bitterness in our hearts over what has been done to us in the past, there will be no true peace—in either the relationship or our own minds. The past cannot be changed. The only thing that can be changed is our response, and our response should be to seek peace.

    Today’s Proverbs Precept: 
    When you forgive and do your best to make peace, you receive the blessing of God.

    Old Testament Reading
    Leviticus 26

    CHAPTER 26

    1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God. 2 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. 3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; 4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6 And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. 10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. 11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.

    14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; 15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: 16 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. 18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits. 21 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. 22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate. 23 And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; 24 Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. 26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied. 27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; 28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. 30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. 31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours. 32 And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. 33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. 34 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. 35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it. 36 And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth. 37 And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. 39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

    40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. 43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes. 44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. 45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD. 46 These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

     

    CHAPTER 27

    1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation. 3 And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. 4 And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels. 5 And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 6 And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver. 7 And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 8 But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him. 9 And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy. 10 He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and if he shall at all change beast for beast, then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy. 11 And if it be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the LORD, then he shall present the beast before the priest: 12 And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou valuest it, who art the priest, so shall it be. 13 But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation.

    14 And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the LORD, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand. 15 And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his. 16 And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. 17 If he sanctify his field from the year of jubile, according to thy estimation it shall stand. 18 But if he sanctify his field after the jubile, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubile, and it shall be abated from thy estimation. 19 And if he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him. 20 And if he will not redeem the field, or if he have sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more. 21 But the field, when it goeth out in the jubile, shall be holy unto the LORD, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's. 22 And if a man sanctify unto the LORD a field which he hath bought, which is not of the fields of his possession; 23 Then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation, even unto the year of the jubile: and he shall give thine estimation in that day, as a holy thing unto the LORD. 24 In the year of the jubile the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land did belong. 25 And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.

    26 Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the LORD'S firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the LORD'S. 27 And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation. 28 Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD. 29 None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death. 30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD. 31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. 33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed. 34 These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

    New Testament Reading
    Mark 2

    CHAPTER 2

    1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

    13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. 15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

    18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? 19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. 21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. 22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. 23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? 25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? 26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? 27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

    Proverb of the Day
    Proverbs 20

    1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. 3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. 4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. 5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? 7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. 8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. 11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. 13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. 14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. 15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. 17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. 19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. 20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. 21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. 22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. 23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. 24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? 25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. 26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. 27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. 28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. 29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. 30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

    		  
           
       
     

  • JOKES

    Sick Aunt

    Finally, the good-natured boss was compelled to call Smith into his office.

    "It has not escaped my attention," he pointed out, "that every time there's a home game at the stadium, you have to take your aunt to the doctor."

    "You know you're right, sir," exclaimed Smith. "I didn't realize it. You don't suppose she's faking, do you?"

    Retirement Party

    The boss is finally old enough to retire from the company. On his last day of work, he ordered a farewell party for himself. The boss wanted everyone to express their good feeling about him by writing on the farewell card, so later he could remember how his staff "miss" him. Most people are writing standard phrases like, "Without you, the company will never be the same,"

    "We will always remember you," etc.

    Obviously the boss was not satisfied. "I need something from the bottom of your heart, something really touching, you know. Okay, John, you have been working with me for the last 20 years. You are my best staff. I am retiring now. What do you have to say?"

    Slowly but firmly, John wrote, "The best news in 20 years."

    I'm Tired!

    Christmas was finally over and the Pastor's wife dropped into an easy chair saying, "Boy! Am I ever tried."

    Her husband looked over at her and said, "I had to conduct two special services last night, three today, and give a total of five sermons. Why are you so tired?"

    "Dear," she replied, "I had to listen to all of them."

    Beethoven's Ninth

    The Boston Symphony was performing Beethoven's Ninth. In the piece, there's a long passage about 20 minutes during which the bass violinists have nothing to do. Rather than sit around the whole time looking stupid, some bassists decided to sneak offstage and go to the tavern next door for a quick one.

    After slamming several beers in quick succession, one of them looked at his watch. "Hey! We need to get back!"

    "No need to panic," said a fellow bassist, "I thought we might need some extra time, so I tied the last few pages of the conductor's score together with string. It'll take him a few minutes to get it untangled."

    A few moments later they staggered back to the concert hall and took their places in the orchestra. About this time, a member of the audience noticed the conductor seemed a bit edgy and said as much to her companion.

    "Well, of course," said her companion, "Don't you see? It's the bottom of the Ninth, the score is tied, and the bassists are loaded."

  • T&M DILIGENCE IS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESS IN YAHVAH

    DILIGENCE IS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESS IN YAHVAH

    But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to Yahvah must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:6

    Some people are just lazy, which is why they never see anything accomplished with their lives. They blame their lack on this, that and everything but themselves. But Yahvah is no respecter of persons. What He does for one, He will do for all. The key factors that make the difference are not about Yahvah, but about a person’s determination and his or his willingness to do whatever is necessary to achieve a goal.

     

    It may be a hard fact to face, but ultimately we are all responsible for our success or our lack of success. We all posses the same promises, the same faith, the same power, the same Spirit, and the same Yahvahosha who sits at the right of power to make intercession for us (Heb 7:25). The main thing that determines who succeeds and who doesn’t succeed is attitude.

     

    You have to want to success in order to get it. It doesn’t float on clouds, and it takes hard work to achieve it. Because most people are willing to do only average work, they reap average results. To achieve super resultds, one must do super work, be deeply committed to the task, and be willing to do whatever is necessary to realize goals and aspirations.

     

    Heb 11:6 says that Yahvah “…is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” According to this verse, even Yahvah rewards diligence. In fact, He only rewards those who diligently seek Him, which means people with lazy, lethargic, do-nothing, “take-it-easy” attitude will never be greatly rewarded by the Saviour. This verse says that Yahvah rewards the diligent seeker.

     

    Diligence is required for any success. The phrase “diligently seek” in Heb 11:6 is taken from the Greek word ekzeteo, and it carries an entire range of power-packed meaning. It means to zealously seek for something with all of one’s strength, and might. It presents the picture of one who seeks something to passionately and determinedly  that he literally exhausts all his power in his search.

     

    Because the word ekzeteo portrays such an earnest effort, the idea of being hard-working, attentive, busy, constant, and persistent in one’s devotion to what he or she is doing is also included.

     

    This tells us that Heb 11:6 means: “Yahvah is a rewarder of those who put all their heart, strength, and might into seeking Him. Those who are so committed in their search that they are willing to exhaust all their natural powers in their search for Him—they are the ones who will find what they are seeking!”

     

    You see, you have to be diligent to be rewarded by Yahvah, so it should be no surprise that diligence is going to be required in order for you to succeed in every sphere of life. It’s just a fact that a lazy, neglectful attitude will never get you where you need to go. If you take your life assignment lightly—if you approach it with a casual, easygoing, take-it-easy, relaxed attitude—you’ll never go far in the fulfillment of your call or dream. Living like a slug, and you’ll eat dirt the rest of your life!

     

    If yours serious about succeeding in life, you’ll have to adjust your level of commitment and give your attention to what Yahvah has called you to do. Diligence cannot be a sideline issue. Your assigned task must have your full consideration, your undivided attention, and your mental and spiritual concentration. You must immerse yourself in faith, prayer, and meditation regarding Yahvah’s call on your life. Distractions are not allowed.

     

    PRAYER: YAHVAH, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE HELP ME BECOME MORE SERIOUSW AS I ADJUST MY LEVEL OF COMMITDMENT TO A HIGH LEVEL. HELP ME GIVE FULL ATTENTION TO WHAQT YOU HAVE CALLED ME TO DO. I REALIZE THAT DILIGENCE CANNOT BE A SIDELINE ISSUE IN MY LIFE. IN ORDER FOR ME TO SUCCEED AT WHAT YOU HAVE ASKED ME TO DO, I MUST GIVE IT MY FULL CONSIDERATION, MY UNDIVIDED ATTENTION AND MY MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL CONCENTRATION. BUT I CAN ONLY KEEP PRESSING TOWARD THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF COMMITMENT IF I HAVE THE DIVINE ENERGY OF THE HOLY GHOST PROPELLING ME FORWARD. AQS I REACH UPWARD TO BECOME ALL THAT YOU WANT ME TO BE, I ASK YOU FOR DIVINE ASSISTANCE! I PRAY THIS IN YAHVAHOSHA’S NAME! Bro. DocdH