Ok, so some of you have heard from me about how excited I am about this week's "Spend $30 on select products, get $15 OYNO" deal at Albertsons. (that's "on your next order" aka catalina)
My first trip:
6 bottles of All 3x Small & Mighty, reg price $6.19/6.49 each, on sale for 3/$10, minus 4 $1/1 and 1 $1/2 coupons = $15
6 cans of Progresso Soup, on sale 6/$10, minus 1 $2/4 and 1 $1/2 = $7
=$22 oop +tax, then a $15 catalina for my next trip, which I can roll!
So I got 6 bottles of All and 6 cans of soup for a little more than the regular price of one bottle of All!
I can't wait to go again tomorrow!
Sites I use for these deals: moneysavingmom (links from her site) and thriftysoaper
(has great scenarios!)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
A Little Rant
Does it bother anyone else that *before* the election, we were not suppose to consider race an issue, not to let that interfere with our voting preference-
But now! It's like I can't get away from hearing how "wonderful" and "miraculous" it is that we have elected a black man for president! And reading an article that 1 in 5 voters said that race was high on their reasons for voting for Obama? But all the bad to you if you let race *prevent* you from voting for him!
Personally, I don't care if he's black or white! Or any other *color*! I want to know he can do the job!
Ok, I feel better now. That just irks me to no end. How hypocritical.
But now! It's like I can't get away from hearing how "wonderful" and "miraculous" it is that we have elected a black man for president! And reading an article that 1 in 5 voters said that race was high on their reasons for voting for Obama? But all the bad to you if you let race *prevent* you from voting for him!
Personally, I don't care if he's black or white! Or any other *color*! I want to know he can do the job!
Ok, I feel better now. That just irks me to no end. How hypocritical.
Our Election Party
Thank the Lord for family. I am sure we could have gone anywhere, but I am just grateful for the blessing of last night. I knew I didn't want to be home in front of the TV, so we went up to Gabe's parents house, along with his grandparents and had a doozy of a dinner.
Cream Cheese Chicken casserole
Mile High Biscuits
White Chocolate covered Strawberries
Brownies with butterscotch caramel drizzled on top, served warm
Can you tell we all knew we would need comfort food?
And then we watched WALL E.
Then we heard the news. At least it didn't ruin the night, as we all were pretty sure it was coming. We were just escaping from reality for a little while, enjoying the company and calories. :-)
Cream Cheese Chicken casserole
Mile High Biscuits
White Chocolate covered Strawberries
Brownies with butterscotch caramel drizzled on top, served warm
Can you tell we all knew we would need comfort food?
And then we watched WALL E.
Then we heard the news. At least it didn't ruin the night, as we all were pretty sure it was coming. We were just escaping from reality for a little while, enjoying the company and calories. :-)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Do Not Fear - Read slowly.
To Abraham, do not be afraid!
To Isaac, Do not fear!
To Jacob, Do Not fear!
To Rachael in Labor, Do not Fear!
To Joseph's brothers, Do not be afraid!
To Moses, Do Not be Afraid
To Israel in Egypt, Do Not Fear!
To Israel fleeing Egypt, Do not be Afraid!
To the Armies of Israel, Do not be afraid! Do not fear! Do not fear!
To Joshua, Do Not be Afraid! Do not fear!
To the children of Israel, Do not fear them! Do not be afraid! Fear not!
To Gideon, Do not Fear!
To Ruth, Do not be afraid!
To the people of Israel, Do not fear!
To David, Do not fear!
To Mephibosheth, Do not fear!
To Solomon, Do not Fear! Do not be afraid!
To Elisha's servant, Do not be afraid!
To Jehoshaphat, Do not fear!
In the Psalms, The Lord is on Your side! Do not Fear!
The Psalms, I will not fear!
To Isaiah, Do not fear!
In Isaiah, Do not fear, nor be afraid!
To the righteous, Do not fear!
O Israel, do not fear!
My servant Jacob, do not fear! Do not fear!
To the dispersed house of Judah, fear not!
To the fearful hearted, Do not fear!
To the widow woman, Fear not!
In Joel, to Israel, Fear not!
To the beasts of the field, Do not be afraid!
To Daniel, Do not be afraid!
To Jerusalem, Do not fear!
In Lamentations, Do not fear!
To Israel, in Haggai, Do not fear!
To the house of Judah and the house of Israel, do not fear!
In Matthew, do not fear!
To Zacharias, Do not be afraid!
To Isaac, Do not fear!
To Jacob, Do Not fear!
To Rachael in Labor, Do not Fear!
To Joseph's brothers, Do not be afraid!
To Moses, Do Not be Afraid
To Israel in Egypt, Do Not Fear!
To Israel fleeing Egypt, Do not be Afraid!
To the Armies of Israel, Do not be afraid! Do not fear! Do not fear!
To Joshua, Do Not be Afraid! Do not fear!
To the children of Israel, Do not fear them! Do not be afraid! Fear not!
To Gideon, Do not Fear!
To Ruth, Do not be afraid!
To the people of Israel, Do not fear!
To David, Do not fear!
To Mephibosheth, Do not fear!
To Solomon, Do not Fear! Do not be afraid!
To Elisha's servant, Do not be afraid!
To Jehoshaphat, Do not fear!
In the Psalms, The Lord is on Your side! Do not Fear!
The Psalms, I will not fear!
To Isaiah, Do not fear!
In Isaiah, Do not fear, nor be afraid!
To the righteous, Do not fear!
O Israel, do not fear!
My servant Jacob, do not fear! Do not fear!
To the dispersed house of Judah, fear not!
To the fearful hearted, Do not fear!
To the widow woman, Fear not!
In Joel, to Israel, Fear not!
To the beasts of the field, Do not be afraid!
To Daniel, Do not be afraid!
To Jerusalem, Do not fear!
In Lamentations, Do not fear!
To Israel, in Haggai, Do not fear!
To the house of Judah and the house of Israel, do not fear!
In Matthew, do not fear!
To Zacharias, Do not be afraid!
To Mary, do not fear!
To Joseph, Do not be afraid!
To the sheperds, Do not be afraid!
To Simon, Do not be afraid!
To Jairus, Do not be afraid!
To the disciples, do not fear! Do not be afraid!
To the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be afraid!
To the disciples on the boat, do not be afraid!
To the disciples, let your heart not be afraid!
To the women at the tomb, do not be afraid!
To the disciples running from the tomb, do not be afraid!
To the sheep, from the sheperd, Do not fear!
To Paul, Do not be afraid! Do not be afraid!
To the Romans, Do not fear!
To those who suffer, do not be afraid!
To the Hebrew Christians, fear not!
To John, Do not be afraid.
In Revelation, DO NOT FEAR!
Fear Not, For I AM the Lord your God. I am with you always, until the ends of the earth.
To the disciples on the boat, do not be afraid!
To the disciples, let your heart not be afraid!
To the women at the tomb, do not be afraid!
To the disciples running from the tomb, do not be afraid!
To the sheep, from the sheperd, Do not fear!
To Paul, Do not be afraid! Do not be afraid!
To the Romans, Do not fear!
To those who suffer, do not be afraid!
To the Hebrew Christians, fear not!
To John, Do not be afraid.
In Revelation, DO NOT FEAR!
Fear Not, For I AM the Lord your God. I am with you always, until the ends of the earth.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Wow! This is Powerful!
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah--Jer 31:32
"not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,[fn1] says the LORD.Jer 31:33
"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.Jer 31:34
"No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."Jer 31:35
Thus says the LORD,
Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea,
And its waves roar
(The LORD of hosts is His name):Jer 31:36
"If those ordinances depart
From before Me, says the LORD,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease
From being a nation before Me forever."Jer 31:37
Thus says the LORD:
"If heaven above can be measured,
And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,
I will also cast off all the seed of Israel
For all that they have done, says the LORD.Jer 31:38
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, that the city shall be built for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.Jer 31:39
"The surveyor's line shall again extend straight forward over the hill Gareb; then it shall turn toward Goath.Jer 31:40
"And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD. It shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever."
"not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,[fn1] says the LORD.Jer 31:33
"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.Jer 31:34
"No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."Jer 31:35
Thus says the LORD,
Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea,
And its waves roar
(The LORD of hosts is His name):Jer 31:36
"If those ordinances depart
From before Me, says the LORD,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease
From being a nation before Me forever."Jer 31:37
Thus says the LORD:
"If heaven above can be measured,
And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,
I will also cast off all the seed of Israel
For all that they have done, says the LORD.Jer 31:38
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, that the city shall be built for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.Jer 31:39
"The surveyor's line shall again extend straight forward over the hill Gareb; then it shall turn toward Goath.Jer 31:40
"And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD. It shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever."
Israel: Just How Literal?
I just wanted to do a quick post on Israel and literal interpretation of prophecy. The deeper we get in discussing this, the more space it takes up! So, my intent is a small post! Ha! But I also want to write out the scriptures, so it may be longer... hmm. we will see.
I want to list some of the scriptural supports for the modern day Jewish state. My question is - Do you take these promises and prophecies literally in their fulfillment, or allegorically?
God gave the land of Israel to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob as an everlasting possession. This is the Abrahamic convenant: the title to the land.
Gen 17:8 "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
Gen 26:2 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Gen 26:3 "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. Gen 26:4 "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; Gen 26:5 "because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws."
Gen 28:1 THEN Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. Gen 28:2 "Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. Gen 28:3 "May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; Gen 28:4 And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham."
Gen 28:13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I [am] the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Gen 28:14 "Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Gen 28:15 "Behold, I [am] with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."
Scriptures which I believe support the fact that neither the cross nor the disobedience of the Jews cause the convenant to end (w/out repeating those above).
1Ch 16:17 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel [for] an everlasting covenant, 1Ch 16:18 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,"
Psa 105:8 He remembers His covenant forever, The word [which] He commanded, for a thousand generations, Psa 105:9 [The covenant] which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, Psa 105:10 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel [as] an everlasting covenant, Psa 105:11 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,"
Rom 9:4 who are Israelites, to whom [pertain] the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service [of God,] and the promises;
Rom 3:1 WHAT advantage then has the Jew, or what [is] the profit of circumcision? Rom 3:2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Rom 3:4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ["That You may be justified in Your words,] [And may overcome when You are judged."]
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God [are] irrevocable.
Rom 9:27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:"Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.
Why can we consider the present day nation of Israel to be still under the promises and convenants of Biblical Israel? They have violated the Land Convenant (conditions for inhabiting and possessing the land), but God still promised to gather them up and return them to the land.
"The Land Covenant promised that Israel would become the prime nation of the world if the Jews were obedient to God (Deuteronomy 28:1,13). But the covenant warned that many curses would befall the people if they were disobedient (Deuteronomy 28:15-37), including exile from the land (Deuteronomy 28:38-57). The covenant warned further that if temporary exile did not restore the Jews to obedience, they would suffer worldwide dispersion and persecution (Deuteronomy 28:58-68). But nowhere are they told that their disobedience would lead to a loss of their title to the land. In fact, the Land Covenant ends in chapter 30 with a prophecy and a promise that a day will come — after the Jews have experienced the curses of the covenant — when the Lord will restore them to their land once again: "The Lord will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. And the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it" (Deuteronomy 30:3-5).
For almost 1900 years the Jews wandered among the nations and suffered severe persecution, just as prophesied in Deuteronomy 28. During that time, their land became desolate as prophesied in Deuteronomy 29. But in this century, God has regathered them from the four corners of the earth, re-established them in their land, and transformed their land from wilderness to milk and honey — as prophesied in Deuteronomy 30.
The only prophecy left to be fulfilled in the Land Covenant is the spiritual salvation of the gathered remnant (Deuteronomy 30:6-8). That will occur soon when they repent and accept Yeshua as their Messiah.
The Abrahamic and Land Covenants make it clear that the Jewish people have both the right to the land of Israel and the right to be back in it today." (Dave Reagan, Lamb and Lion Ministries, to save on time :-)
Why we ought not be forcing or encouraging division of the land?
Amo 9:14 I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit [them;] They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. Amo 9:15 I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them," Says the LORD your God.
Joe 3:1 "FOR behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, Joe 3:2 I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.
Forgive my brevity, but I am trying not to let blogging interfere with my more important priorities-- so trying to be quick! :-) I know I didn't answer all the questions here; my intent was to get a response to the scriptures. I also have another scripture coming which addresses why they have to be in the land before the remnant will believe (ie, why back in before they become obedient again), but I am having trouble finding it. Time...time... :-)
Thoughts?
I want to list some of the scriptural supports for the modern day Jewish state. My question is - Do you take these promises and prophecies literally in their fulfillment, or allegorically?
God gave the land of Israel to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob as an everlasting possession. This is the Abrahamic convenant: the title to the land.
Gen 17:8 "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
Gen 26:2 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Gen 26:3 "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. Gen 26:4 "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; Gen 26:5 "because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws."
Gen 28:1 THEN Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. Gen 28:2 "Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. Gen 28:3 "May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; Gen 28:4 And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham."
Gen 28:13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I [am] the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Gen 28:14 "Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Gen 28:15 "Behold, I [am] with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."
Scriptures which I believe support the fact that neither the cross nor the disobedience of the Jews cause the convenant to end (w/out repeating those above).
1Ch 16:17 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel [for] an everlasting covenant, 1Ch 16:18 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,"
Psa 105:8 He remembers His covenant forever, The word [which] He commanded, for a thousand generations, Psa 105:9 [The covenant] which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, Psa 105:10 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel [as] an everlasting covenant, Psa 105:11 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,"
Rom 9:4 who are Israelites, to whom [pertain] the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service [of God,] and the promises;
Rom 3:1 WHAT advantage then has the Jew, or what [is] the profit of circumcision? Rom 3:2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Rom 3:4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ["That You may be justified in Your words,] [And may overcome when You are judged."]
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God [are] irrevocable.
Rom 9:27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:"Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.
Why can we consider the present day nation of Israel to be still under the promises and convenants of Biblical Israel? They have violated the Land Convenant (conditions for inhabiting and possessing the land), but God still promised to gather them up and return them to the land.
"The Land Covenant promised that Israel would become the prime nation of the world if the Jews were obedient to God (Deuteronomy 28:1,13). But the covenant warned that many curses would befall the people if they were disobedient (Deuteronomy 28:15-37), including exile from the land (Deuteronomy 28:38-57). The covenant warned further that if temporary exile did not restore the Jews to obedience, they would suffer worldwide dispersion and persecution (Deuteronomy 28:58-68). But nowhere are they told that their disobedience would lead to a loss of their title to the land. In fact, the Land Covenant ends in chapter 30 with a prophecy and a promise that a day will come — after the Jews have experienced the curses of the covenant — when the Lord will restore them to their land once again: "The Lord will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. And the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it" (Deuteronomy 30:3-5).
For almost 1900 years the Jews wandered among the nations and suffered severe persecution, just as prophesied in Deuteronomy 28. During that time, their land became desolate as prophesied in Deuteronomy 29. But in this century, God has regathered them from the four corners of the earth, re-established them in their land, and transformed their land from wilderness to milk and honey — as prophesied in Deuteronomy 30.
The only prophecy left to be fulfilled in the Land Covenant is the spiritual salvation of the gathered remnant (Deuteronomy 30:6-8). That will occur soon when they repent and accept Yeshua as their Messiah.
The Abrahamic and Land Covenants make it clear that the Jewish people have both the right to the land of Israel and the right to be back in it today." (Dave Reagan, Lamb and Lion Ministries, to save on time :-)
Why we ought not be forcing or encouraging division of the land?
Amo 9:14 I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit [them;] They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. Amo 9:15 I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them," Says the LORD your God.
Joe 3:1 "FOR behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, Joe 3:2 I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.
Forgive my brevity, but I am trying not to let blogging interfere with my more important priorities-- so trying to be quick! :-) I know I didn't answer all the questions here; my intent was to get a response to the scriptures. I also have another scripture coming which addresses why they have to be in the land before the remnant will believe (ie, why back in before they become obedient again), but I am having trouble finding it. Time...time... :-)
Thoughts?
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Prayer Request
Today I found out that a friend of mine is getting a divorce. This breaks my heart because several weeks ago she asked me how I could speak of Gabe with so much love in my voice after being married for 8+ years (ripped my heartstrings out!), and I have been walking with her on choosing to love her husband. I haven't talked with her in two weeks because of the conference last weekend, but the last time I did things were looking up and she was really having a change of heart. I do not believe she is a Christian, more of a Catholic-by-tradition than a Christian-by-faith.
Anyway, could you all please pray for her, her husband and their children? I really felt like God was doing a mighty work in her life, and hope that this may be the "hitting bottom" part before she truly looks up.
Thank you!
Anyway, could you all please pray for her, her husband and their children? I really felt like God was doing a mighty work in her life, and hope that this may be the "hitting bottom" part before she truly looks up.
Thank you!
Two Little Puppies
Ever since last Halloween, Melia knew she wanted to be a Dalmatian this year. A few months back, she decided that she would be the mommy and Kiera would be the baby. Kiera loved it, because they often play mommy and baby, or little girl and her dog.
Kiera Barking :-)
Daddy trying to scare his own grandpa :-) (He took the mask that was hanging on the door.)Both girls did really well; we visited three houses of grandparents, then drove out to Mark and Linda's because when we went to visit Linda at work the doors were locked! Chels and "Lest" (kiera-ese) and I with their friend took the girls around to a few houses. It was pretty funny, as after they got their candy, Melia and Kiera would just sit there at the door talking up a storm, or peeking inside the house... never in a hurry to move on :-) We only visited one house that had some pretty scary stuff up- Melia wanted to go, then didn't, stopped in the driveway- I ended up holding her hand up to the door so she could make it. (Kiera was already there!)
Long night, but lots of fun! Gabe had to work, but he got up early and helped to dress the girls up :-) Melia was so proud that her daddy colored her face!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Debrief, Part Three... Israel, Part Me
Israel. Since it's such a hot topic. ;-) And I am going to mention-- because I really really had a struggle today-- I had Gabe read this to make sure I didn't screw anything up, and I now have instructions to stop being so apologetic for my beliefs. So, if you don't like this, then prove it with a biblical discussion. Look it up! The Bible is opinionated, and it is right!
The statistic is that 90% of churches preach Replacement Theology, if they preach on Israel at all. I do not believe that the church has replaced Israel in God's program. No way.
As I understand it, Israel refers to all Jews worldwide in general, but also to the political state. I don't see how we can include one and exclude the other, in regards to the Biblical promise of blessing? Note: I will include a partial list of "what" Israel refers to in the Bible in my second section on Israel- this is already too big in my head for one post! ;-)
But, "I will bless those which bless thee, and I will curse those who curse thee." Gen 12:3 Is there any other nation or people group in which we are promised curses if we are on the wrong side? A quote that deserves consideration: the "only reason God has not released judgement on America is because we continue to support Israel." Not just be neutral, but support. But our position is changing quickly. (Side note: A really thought-provoking study: God's Wrath in relation to how we treat Israel. Did you know that Hurricane Katrina formed on the exact day the US completed with "assisting" the removal of 8500 Israelis from the Gaza Strip? There are NUMEROUS other examples I would encourage you to examine. We first heard it from Dave Reagan and Bill Koenig at Steeling the Mind '06.)
Take a logical look at the nation itself.
"Given the circumstances surrounding Israel's birth as a nation, and the odds against its survival, Israel should not exist as a nation today. Yet it not only exists, but seems to thrive in spite of its adversaries and in the face of circumstances that defy logic and reason... Not all attribute their military victories to divine assistance, but everyone agrees that the odds for Israel's survival through the turbulent twentieth century have defied all reasonable logic....Why did an unstoppable armada of Syrian tanks bound for Tel Aviv at the start of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, suddenly stop just north of Tiberius and simply wait for the Israeli army to arrive so they could surrender without a fight? When an Israeli tank commander found himself and his men in the middle of a mine field, how was the prayer of one of his men suddenly followed by an unprecedented wind that blew away nearly a foot of topsoil and then just as suddenly stop, revealing the hiding places of thousands of mines so the soldiers could escape unharmed? Why, during the war for independence, did a battalion of Jordanian soldiers approaching the position of a handful of Israeli soldiers defending Mt. Zion without ammunition, suddenly shout "Abraham" and turn and flee? How could three dozen teenagers, survivors of the Holocaust, walk right past a company of Egyptian soldiers in the Negev without being seen?" (Against All Odds)
God wants them there. Let me get past my humanist education and point out that it is their God-given right to exist on that specific piece of property. In actuality, a much larger piece of property, but I'm guessing that just ain't gonna happen until their rightful King returns!
Do not assume I think we should not bless and love everyone else- Of course we should! It is one of our greatest responsibilities! I am not "against" all the rest of the Arab or Palestinian nations. We should pray for all of them! For example, our church supports missionaries in Israel whose main ministry is Palestinians, most of them Muslim and Greek Orthodox. We are accountable to ALL nations. But the promise is attached to Israel!
One of the points made at the conference was that because of our western media, we assume that everyone is the same "culture" or "people group"over there. (Other than Sunnis and Shiites, of course.) But the true Arabs, who are actually a smaller people group that most would assume, are enduring great persecution by the rest of the Palestinians, not to mention the rest of the world. I can't begin to reiterate the list that was given, but I found it discouraging how we refer to them as one group, but we are terribly deficient in our understanding.
Now I am going to get unpleasant.
The Bible is not "nice." When Israel was sent to purge the Promised Land, they were often instructed to kill every man, woman, and child. No regard for "innocent" life. In fact, when they did not do as commanded, it repeatedly came back to bite them in the butt. Revelation states that huge portions of the world's population will perish during the Tribulation. It is not going to be pretty! But it is God's plan!
Respect for innocent life is a theory, not a common practice. Especially in times of war. And Israel is at war- fighting for the right to exist. I don't like death and war, but there's a lot of things I don't like and can do absolutely nothing about. I live in a country which, in practice, believes it's ok to murder babies which are socially inconvenient. Even though I fervently disagree with this, I still live here. We are to be responsible with the abilities given us; to make the difference He inspires us to make. I can't change the fact that "innocent" people will die. But I can support with my prayers and finances the missions who minister in Christ's name.
An odd thought I had- it could be argued from a Biblical perspective that those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem are praying for the destruction of 2/3 of the worlds population. Because before True Peace will come, the false peacemaker must come, and with his false treaty, the wrath of God. But we are still instructed to do so! Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Hermeneutics dictate that how you choose to interpret the Bible makes all the difference in your beliefs. Gabe and I have chosen to educate ourselves under teachers and scholars who interpret the Bible literally. We don't take everything we are taught straight to the bank; many good scholars disagree on the details! If you've ever tried to understand the different legitimate views, much less the crazies (!) you know that it takes a while to prayerfully sort out the details and let the Spirit work discernment. We are on a long road, but so excited to be here, making progress step by step as He leads us.
Isa 46:9-13Remember the former things of old, For I [am] God, and [there is] no other; [I am] God, and [there is] none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times [things] that are not [yet] done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,' ... Indeed I have spoken [it;] I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed [it;] I will also do it... I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.
The statistic is that 90% of churches preach Replacement Theology, if they preach on Israel at all. I do not believe that the church has replaced Israel in God's program. No way.
As I understand it, Israel refers to all Jews worldwide in general, but also to the political state. I don't see how we can include one and exclude the other, in regards to the Biblical promise of blessing? Note: I will include a partial list of "what" Israel refers to in the Bible in my second section on Israel- this is already too big in my head for one post! ;-)
But, "I will bless those which bless thee, and I will curse those who curse thee." Gen 12:3 Is there any other nation or people group in which we are promised curses if we are on the wrong side? A quote that deserves consideration: the "only reason God has not released judgement on America is because we continue to support Israel." Not just be neutral, but support. But our position is changing quickly. (Side note: A really thought-provoking study: God's Wrath in relation to how we treat Israel. Did you know that Hurricane Katrina formed on the exact day the US completed with "assisting" the removal of 8500 Israelis from the Gaza Strip? There are NUMEROUS other examples I would encourage you to examine. We first heard it from Dave Reagan and Bill Koenig at Steeling the Mind '06.)
Take a logical look at the nation itself.
"Given the circumstances surrounding Israel's birth as a nation, and the odds against its survival, Israel should not exist as a nation today. Yet it not only exists, but seems to thrive in spite of its adversaries and in the face of circumstances that defy logic and reason... Not all attribute their military victories to divine assistance, but everyone agrees that the odds for Israel's survival through the turbulent twentieth century have defied all reasonable logic....Why did an unstoppable armada of Syrian tanks bound for Tel Aviv at the start of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, suddenly stop just north of Tiberius and simply wait for the Israeli army to arrive so they could surrender without a fight? When an Israeli tank commander found himself and his men in the middle of a mine field, how was the prayer of one of his men suddenly followed by an unprecedented wind that blew away nearly a foot of topsoil and then just as suddenly stop, revealing the hiding places of thousands of mines so the soldiers could escape unharmed? Why, during the war for independence, did a battalion of Jordanian soldiers approaching the position of a handful of Israeli soldiers defending Mt. Zion without ammunition, suddenly shout "Abraham" and turn and flee? How could three dozen teenagers, survivors of the Holocaust, walk right past a company of Egyptian soldiers in the Negev without being seen?" (Against All Odds)
God wants them there. Let me get past my humanist education and point out that it is their God-given right to exist on that specific piece of property. In actuality, a much larger piece of property, but I'm guessing that just ain't gonna happen until their rightful King returns!
Do not assume I think we should not bless and love everyone else- Of course we should! It is one of our greatest responsibilities! I am not "against" all the rest of the Arab or Palestinian nations. We should pray for all of them! For example, our church supports missionaries in Israel whose main ministry is Palestinians, most of them Muslim and Greek Orthodox. We are accountable to ALL nations. But the promise is attached to Israel!
One of the points made at the conference was that because of our western media, we assume that everyone is the same "culture" or "people group"over there. (Other than Sunnis and Shiites, of course.) But the true Arabs, who are actually a smaller people group that most would assume, are enduring great persecution by the rest of the Palestinians, not to mention the rest of the world. I can't begin to reiterate the list that was given, but I found it discouraging how we refer to them as one group, but we are terribly deficient in our understanding.
Now I am going to get unpleasant.
The Bible is not "nice." When Israel was sent to purge the Promised Land, they were often instructed to kill every man, woman, and child. No regard for "innocent" life. In fact, when they did not do as commanded, it repeatedly came back to bite them in the butt. Revelation states that huge portions of the world's population will perish during the Tribulation. It is not going to be pretty! But it is God's plan!
Respect for innocent life is a theory, not a common practice. Especially in times of war. And Israel is at war- fighting for the right to exist. I don't like death and war, but there's a lot of things I don't like and can do absolutely nothing about. I live in a country which, in practice, believes it's ok to murder babies which are socially inconvenient. Even though I fervently disagree with this, I still live here. We are to be responsible with the abilities given us; to make the difference He inspires us to make. I can't change the fact that "innocent" people will die. But I can support with my prayers and finances the missions who minister in Christ's name.
An odd thought I had- it could be argued from a Biblical perspective that those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem are praying for the destruction of 2/3 of the worlds population. Because before True Peace will come, the false peacemaker must come, and with his false treaty, the wrath of God. But we are still instructed to do so! Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Hermeneutics dictate that how you choose to interpret the Bible makes all the difference in your beliefs. Gabe and I have chosen to educate ourselves under teachers and scholars who interpret the Bible literally. We don't take everything we are taught straight to the bank; many good scholars disagree on the details! If you've ever tried to understand the different legitimate views, much less the crazies (!) you know that it takes a while to prayerfully sort out the details and let the Spirit work discernment. We are on a long road, but so excited to be here, making progress step by step as He leads us.
Isa 46:9-13Remember the former things of old, For I [am] God, and [there is] no other; [I am] God, and [there is] none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times [things] that are not [yet] done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,' ... Indeed I have spoken [it;] I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed [it;] I will also do it... I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.
Piles of Paper are Evil
I just found my most favoritist magazine in the whole world (NGJ, see list at right) had come last week, and I didn't know it because it was stuck in a pile of mail!
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