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A Cool Video for Easter
I saw this video this morning and had to share it. The video was created by the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and tells the Passover story in a unique way. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Passover Pesach Technion 2016 Breakdance High Tech Haggadah.
As you celebrate Yeshua’s Sacrifice and Resurrection this weekend, remember the Passover story. It belongs to all of us who follow Yeshua (Jesus), not just Jewish people. Without it, we might not have had Yeshua, the Lamb of God, whose ultimate sacrifice and resurrection, enabled us all to become part of God’s family.
Refer to my posts Passover and Easter, What Do Easter and Passover Mean?, and An Appointment with God–Passover.
Have a joyous weekend and
Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Easter Traditions
While writing the “Passover and Easter” post, I got to thinking about some of the usual American Easter season traditions. I recalled my mother doing a thorough spring cleaning of our home around the time of Easter and a special Easter meal following church on Easter Sunday. We went to church every Sunday and had a nice Sunday dinner afterward. But Easter dinner was usually something special, sometimes with guests. My wife remembers similar traditions in her home.
But, where did these traditions originate? I haven’t researched their origins, but could spring cleaning be derived from the Jewish tradition of cleaning all the leaven from the home? (Leaven represents sin.) Could the special Easter Sunday meal be derived from the special family meal on Passover? I’m not sure how ham got into the picture, but we won’t go there today.
Just a fun thought to keep in mind as you observe your personal Easter Season traditions.
Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
What Do Passover and Easter Mean?
Hope
I am the Lord. I will bring you out… (Deut 6:6-8)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah! According to his great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua from the dead. (1 Pet 1:3)
Deliverance
…from your enslavement to the Egyptians, I will rescue you from the hard labor they impose…
(Deut 6:6-8)
The Father has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:13-14)
Redemption
…and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God and you shall know that… (Deut 6:6-8)
He gave Himself for us to set us free (to redeem us, purchase our freedom) from every kind of lawlessness [from all violation of Torah] and to purify for Himself a people who are truly His, who are eager and enthusiastic about living a life that is good and filled with beneficial deeds. (Titus 2:14; Deut. 14:2; Ps 130:8; Ezek. 37:23)
Sanctification
…I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from your enslavement to the Egyptians. I will bring you to the land I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord! (Deut 6:6-8)
Praised be Adonai, Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who in the Messiah has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven. In the Messiah He chose us in love before the creation of the universe to be holy and without defect in His presence. (Eph 1:3-4)
Remembrance
Remember for the rest of your life the day you came out of the land of Egypt. (Deut 16:3)
So you shall remember and do all My commandments, and be holy to your God. (Num 15:40)
You should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of your Master and Savior. (2 Pet 3:2)
Love
The Lord! The Lord! A God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, Keeping mercy and loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. (Ex. 20:6, 34:6-7; Num. 14:18; Deut. 7:9)
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His loyal love endures forever. (1 Chron. 16:34)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. (John 3:16)
Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Thought for Today
The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.
Samuel Chadwick
So, make him tremble all the time. Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:17)
Until next time…“May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
R U in the 75%?
Are you part of the 75% of Yeshua-followers who do not vote? We should be ashamed of ourselves! We should have a 100% voting participation record. Voting is a right and a privilege in the USA and we should be exercising it to the fullest. We will never see a change in the direction of our beloved country if we don’t participate in its government — and everyone who is eligible to vote can participate by voting!
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Home Stretch
We’ve rounded turn 4 for the final lap and we’re coming down the home stretch to the finish line! What finish line? Nov. 3rd, of course! Have you voted? If you are a follower of Yeshua, have you and are you still praying for God’s will to be accomplished, even if you have already voted? After the election, will you continue praying for the winners, regardless of who they are or their party affiliation, that they will lead in justice and mercy according to Biblical values?
As Nov. 3rd fast approaches, we can’t let our guard down. We must remain steadfast in prayer. I hope that you are praying for His choices to be elected. I hope that you made or are making, your choices based on what the Bible says, not what man thinks. To assist in your prayers, I’m including the Top Ten Prayer Points from Intercessors for America*.
- Pray for more of God’s Presence to be experienced in your community and our nation. (Ps 16:11; 2 Cor 3:17)
- Pray for the [Body of Believers] to see the need to repent of personal and national sins in the fear of the Lord. (2 Chron 7:14; 1 Jn 1:9; Prov 9:10)
- Pray for believers to unite in prayer to seek God for their nieghborhoods and communities. (1 Tim 2:1-2)
- Pray for godly candidates to be elected, regardless of party affiliation. (Ps 96:10; Ps 1:1-3)
- Pray for administrators, legislators, and judges to serve in a way that aligns with God’s word. (Ps 19:7-11, Prov 3:5)
- Pray for the elections to be fair, honest, and without corruption. (Prov 16:13)
- Pray that the Holy Spirit convicts many who do not know [Jesus] as their Savior, leading them to seek Him as [Savior and] Lord. (1 Tim 2:4)
- Pray for divine protection over our nation during the critical upcoming elections [and beyond]. (Prov 3:5; Ps 91)
- Pray that those candidates who know [Yeshua] would openly and courageously speak of their faith and stand firm on their biblical principles. (Mt 5:13-16)
- Pray that [followeres of Yeshua] across the nation will persist in seeking God’s purpose for America beyond the elections, and that God, in His mercy, will usher in transforming [and lasting] revival. (Ezek 37; Ps 42:1)
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
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* ifapray.org
Withering America
“A disease that lies in the spirit cannot be cured by that which doesn’t”*
We have been watching America wither away morally and spiritually for many years. The politicians are campaigning that they will fix everything–“they”, not God! At least I haven’t heard any say that God would do the fixing, the curing. As Jonathan Cahn said in his recent book, “A spiritual disease cannot be answered by cures rooted in other realms, political cures, economic cures, ideological cures. No such cure can stop the withering. A spiritual disease can only be answered by a spiritual cure.”*
Are those of us who follow Yeshua willing to pay the price to obtain that cure? God is the source of that cure, but it starts with each of us. In our hearts, yes, but also in the way we live openly for Yeshua! It will require spending significant time on our knees beseaching God! It will require standing up publically against the antichrist forces that want to see the US continue to wither! And, it will require the dedication of every believer–there is so much that needs changed in our personal lives, the “church”, our government, and our nation in general.
Where, oh where do you start? If you haven’t voted, do so according to scripture, not according to your pocketbook or the personality of the candate. Once you’ve voted, find ways in your daily life to blatantly live out your faith. Doing so with love for your fellow man, regardless of his views, but being strong and forthright about the truth!
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
* Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger II, Charisma House
2 Tim 4: Thoughts for Today
Paul’s charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4: 1-2, 5¹ is for all who claim Yeshua as Savior and Lord today. His warning in vs 3-4* is at its highest point to date in history, at least in the USA and in the American Body of Believers. It will get only worse if we don’t wake up! Yes, it will probably get worse as we progress further into the end times even if we do wake up, but at least we’ll be prepared to handle it. The majority of Messiah-followers, and the general public, are not prepared today, nor are the majority of the leaders in the organized church preparing us.
Mankind in general and, yes, those who claim to follow Yeshua, have turned from hearing the Truth and are instead seeking after myths and a watered-down Gospel that pleases their ears (2 Tim. 4:3-4¹), rather than challenge them. They are more interested in having a good time, than in what is happening under their noses that will change their lives and the lives of their descendants forever if allowed to continue. I pray that I will never be numbered among them, though sometimes I have to wonder.
Paul is calling all believers to “Preach [live] the message, be ready (persistent) whether it is convenient or not” and to “be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.”¹ By the way, “Evangelist” doesn’t mean just those who are preaching the Word in a pulpit, nor does “ministry” mean serving as a Pastor or Sunday school teacher, etc. Both mean serving Him in whatever we do.
The Lord is calling out to all mankind through the pandemic and the social unrest we’re experiencing to wake up and turn to Him—to live according to His teaching. The solution is not in man’s ideas; the solution is not in demonstrations, especially not in actions of destruction. Unfortunately, this applies to those in the church almost as much as those who are not. Too many have allowed themselves to come under the enemy’s spell, under the cloud of deception that hangs over our country and the world.
The solution is in Father God and His Son, Yeshua. The solution is in acting out the Truth, the principles of His instructions in love and compassion. Church leaders especially must be taking a strong stand and teaching their flock to live according to the Word instead of providing entertainment and worrying about numbers. Lord, do not let me be counted among them!
I want to be counted among His disciples who live out the two greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God and Love your neighbor as yourself”² This doesn’t mean that you and I sit idly by and let those who want to destroy the good in America and around the world have their way. It does mean that we stand up for God’s Truth and not what is politically correct.
If you are reading this and have never accepted Yeshua as your Savior and the Leader of your life, I urge you to do so today. If you are a believer or unbeliever who is following popular myths and striving to be “politically correct,” even supporting subversive movements, I urge you to get on your knees, repent, and turn from your “wicked” ways.³ This is the only way you, the United States, or the world will be saved.
Until the next time…“May the LORD bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; May the LORD make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; May the LORD lift up His face toward you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
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Footnotes:
- 1 Tim 4:2-5 (NET): (2)Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction. (3) For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. (4) And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand, they will turn aside to myths. (5) You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.
- Mark 12:30-31 (NET): “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength… [And].Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
- Read and consider 2 Chron. 7:13-19 (NET): When I… send a plague among my people, if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Now I will be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place…Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations. … “But if you people ever turn away from me, fail to obey the regulations and rules I instructed you to keep, and decide to serve and worship other gods, then I will remove you from my land I have given you, I will abandon this temple I have consecrated with my presence, and I will make you an object of mockery and ridicule among all the nations.” I believe this applies to America as much as the Israeli people to whom it was originally given.
Musings on COVID-19 #2
Musings on COVID-19 #2
Many have been looking to God during this pandemic; will they continue to do so afterward? Or will they slowly turn back away from Him as they slowly return to the old “normal”? We’ve heard testimony from pastors who are seeing a higher number of individuals attending their online services than attended in person. Some of these new attendees may be watching because their home congregation is not doing online services. However, will those who are truly new show up when in-person services are permitted again? Will they continue to attend online, if the congregation they are watching continues online services in conjunction with in-person services?
Only time will tell. I hope and pray that I am wrong, but my “Doubting-Thomas” side says, “No, they will disappear into the woodwork until another crisis occurs”. My question for them is “what if you don’t have the opportunity to turn to God before the next crisis occurs nationally or personally and it costs you your life? Don’t say that it isn’t possible. Unfortunately, many in this world pass suddenly who have said, “Tomorrow I’ll commit to Jesus.” I am confident that many who died from COVID-19, died without the Lord as their Savior because they delayed the decision, fully expecting to recover. Besides, it isn’t just about being His disciple when you pass; it is also about having Him in your life today, to help you through crises in your life, major and minor.
If you are reading this and you have never made a decision to accept Jesus as your Savior, or if you made such a decision once but have grown cold towards Him, don’t delay another moment. It is simple, you don’t have to say or do anything special. You only need to tell Him, in your own words, that you are sorry for how you have lived, how you have ignored Him (that is called “repentance”), and that you accept Him as your Savior and want to make Him the Lord of your life. Then, start reading your Bible, find a congregation that supports your decision, and start learning how He wants you to live. When you make this decision to turn your life over to Jesus, or if you even have any questions, contact me by commenting on this post via my blog site. Provide your contact information and I will get in touch. Your personal information will be kept confidential.
Until the next time…“May the LORD bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; May the LORD make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; May the LORD lift up His face toward you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Musings on COVID-19 #1
Musings on COVID-19 #1
Just what does God want us to do at this time, anyway?
Probably many things, but I believe that one is not to be so focused on “how do we get back to the way things were” that we miss what He is saying and doing. We should not be sitting around just waiting for the day we can go back to whatever we were doing last February, in the same way that we were doing it. This applies to all areas of life—our jobs, our houses of worship, our families, our interests. I “hear” people saying,
- “I can’t wait to get back to the office,”
- “I can’t wait to get back to the church building,”
- “I can’t wait to get back to my favorite brewery,”
- “I can’t wait to go to (name your favorite event),”
- Etc.
The underlying thought behind each of these is “I can’t wait for things to get back to the way they were!” Could it be that God doesn’t want things to go back to the “way they were”?
I’m not suggesting that there is anything wrong with desiring to see friends, extended family, and co-workers in person. I’m retired, so I don’t have co-workers, but I am looking forward to physically being with my family and friends, and getting back to giving back to my community in person. What I’m speaking of goes beyond that.
I believe that we need to be taking advantage of this time away from the busyness and same-ol’-same-ol’; the busyness of our church activities, work activities, family activities, etc. He wants us to rest in Him and seek His direction for how He wants our life to look going forward. I believe that He is using this time to get our attention and we need to give it to Him. I sense that He wants things to be different. (James 1:5-6*; Dan 2:21-23*) This applies to leadership in regards to how they lead and coordinate their organizations as well.
We need to examine the old path and determine whether it is the one that He actually wants us to follow. (Jer 6:16*) We should not “throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater” just to change something, but we need to be willing to face reality and change as He directs. We will probably be stretched, but if we, in our free will, don’t go along, then what????
*Scriptures
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5–6 (ESV)
“He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
for You have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of You,
for You have made known to us the king’s matter. Daniel 2:21–23 (ESV)
“Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV)
Until the next time…May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom. (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
WJB's Turn 