Paleo Times January 2003 Newsletter

Greetings Brethren,

I pray that this letter finds you and your family doing well through these hard times that have been wrought against us by the Adversary. Please keep the brethren in your prayers. I pray that this issue gives you encouragement against whatever trials befall you and those around you. We look forward to the day when the light of the world will come from Jerusalem and there will be no more darkness. Halleluyah!

There have been a number of questions raised about which month we are in scripturally. This year will most likely have an intercalary month (13 month year). The extra month balances the calendar so that Abib (Nisan) for example remains within the correct time frame for the harvest of barley. The lunar month is 29.5 days long, so every 12 months there are approximately 354 days which is actually 10.25 days shorter than the solar year. Every three years we have an extra month which keeps the cycle aligned.

We depend on Yahweh to provide Abib (green ears of barley) for the wave sheaf offering. This year it is easy to see that barley will not be parchable following the new moon probably visible on March 3rd so the next new moon after that one is on April 2nd. The barley will be checked March 3rd by the Kariate Jews and if it is parchable or even close they will let us know through the internet. Before the time of the internet and the telephone the most accurate way of determining Abib was through the 19 year cycle which provided estimations of when the Barley would be parchable. Since the reestablishment of Israel in 1948 the 19 year cycle has been validated as being accurate over the last 54 years.

Counting from Abib of last year the months are as follows: (The listed date is when the new moon is first visible.)

1. Abib/Nisan - March 14, 2002

2. Iyyar - April 13, 2002

3. Siwan - May 13, 2002

4. Tammuz - June 11, 2002

5. Abh - July 11, 2002

6. Elul - August 9, 2002

7. Ethanim/Tishri - September 7, 2002

8. Marheswan - October 7, 2002

9. Kislew - November 5, 2002

10. Tebbeth - December 5, 2002

11. Shebhat - January 3, 2003

12. Adhar - February 2, 2003

13. ViAdhar - March 3, 2003 or March 4, 2003

1. Abib/Nisan - April 2, 2003

The twelfth new moon is expected to be visible this February 2nd, at that time the Kariates are expected to report the condition of the barley. Yahweh willing we will carry their report next newsletter.

If the intercalary month was not added we would end up keeping the feasts earlier and earlier every year and the whole calendar rotate outside of the harvests that are associated with the appointed observances of Yahweh's people.

Yahweh Bless,

James A. Meyer

Please keep the following brethren and sisters in your prayers: Don and Della Ewing, Karen Bordzuk - Karen needs spiritual and financial help., Delbert Ellis, Chris Nelson, Walt Hoffman, Andre Gale and Family, Twanda Luster, Julie A. Oakman, Jerry Cornwell, Justin Cain, Pendlebury Family, Andres Lopez Jr. and Sr., Barry Weaver, Micheal and Marie Fegans, Samuel Ndoumbe, Linda Dupree, Dan Hoskins, Gladys Joyce, Mayra Luisa Vega, Virginia Rivera, Derrick Holmes, Ernestine Walls, James Fauth, Bruce McCall Family - Bruce's great grandson is in desperate need of prayer., Anna I. Velez, Henry Ruiz - liver problems, Patrick Nelson, Gary Guenther, Chloe S. Kurzon, Tom (Mordecai) Mitchell, Jason Kissee, Holly S. Forster, James Meyer Family, Spears' Family, Tori Blair, Jenny Hopson, Blackburn Family, Marie Harris, Annette Dosold, Mike Cly, Matt Nesser, Ron Orr Family, Castillo Family, Eloise Carson, Joseph Meyer Family, Lee Christopher Kearns, Jonathan Kearns, Jennifer Brindley, Barry Wood, Jim and Alice Maring, Steve Foster, Jayne Crosson, Tom Browand - Tom has a larger than golf ball sized tumor., Roger D. Thompson and Family, Pam Fiello, Tad Bennethum, Carl and Cheryl Meyer, and the many others striving to be better servants of Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah.

The eleventh New Moon was seen on January 3rd by brethren across the US and on January 4th by brethren in Israel and France. The twelfth New Moon will most likely be seen February 2nd. Please look for this up coming New Moon and send us your report. We will share the reports with brethren around the world through the Paleo Times weekly email update. You can email your report to New Moon or call 573-896-8090.

The following compositions are articles and short stories submitted by brethren and sisters to edify the Assembly. If you have written a composition that you would like included please submit it through email or postal mail.

Before leaving suddenly on an extended trip abroad, a very rich man had built seven houses all alike in size and shape on the front side of his property. All the houses were completed except for putting in the windows. He gave his servants some special instructions for putting in the windows. He requested that they put nine windows each in all the houses except the last one at the end of the road. The house at the end of the road was the only one that was painted pure white while the rest were painted gray. For many reasons of his own good pleasure, the last house at the end of the road was to be his own very special house so he told them to put ten windows in it. He wanted that house to stand out from the others even though it was the same size. He wanted his servants to always think about him when they entered that very special house and to remember that it was him, their master, who had built all of the houses and owned both the property and the servants. After he left on his trip the servants discussed the situation before they started to put in the windows. An enemy of the rich man heard them discussing the matter and suggested that they put the ten windows in the first house and paint it white and repaint the one on the end gray. He told them that the first house should always be the master's house and that it didn't really make any difference to the rich man as long as they put the ten windows in one of them and painted it white for him. Convinced that the rich man's enemy's suggestions were okay and that it really didn't matter, they went ahead and put the ten windows in the first house and repainted it white and repainted the one on the end gray.

When the rich man comes back will he say, "Well done my good and faithful servants."? Will he tell them that it really didn't make any difference to him anyway? How would you feel if you were that rich man? Think about it before reading on.

In this parable, YAHWEH is the rich man, the devil is the enemy, the seven houses are the seven days of the week. The white house with ten windows is the seventh day of the week, the Sabbath. The windows are the ten commandments. The remembering to keep the seventh day (i.e. the Sabbath) holy is the fourth of the ten commandments. During the first six days of the week, nine of the ten commandments are to be kept. On the seventh day of the week, all ten of the commandments are to be kept.

We are to be holy seven days a week, but we are to remember to keep the seventh day of the week holy by not polluting it. We cannot bless or make any day of the week holy! Only YAHWEH, our Elohim, can bless and make a day holy and HE did! YAHWEH blessed and hallowed the seventh day at creation.

Genesis 2 (2) And on the seventh day [YAHWEH] Elohim ended HIS work which HE had made; and HE rested on the seventh day from all HIS work which HE had made. (3) And [YAHWEH] Elohim blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it HE had rested from all HIS work which [YAHWEH] Elohim created and made.

Since the Sabbath Day was blessed and hallowed at the end of Creation, the law of remembering the Sabbath Day to keep it holy was surely one of the laws and commandments that the great patriarch Abraham kept.

Genesis 26 (5) Because that Abraham obeyed MY voice, and kept MY charge, MY Commandments, MY statutes, and MY Laws.

When YAHWEH gave the ten commandments, HE specifically said for HIS people to "REMEMBER the Sabbath day to keep it holy"!

Exodus 20 (8) Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (9) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: (10) But the seventh day is the Sabbath of YAHWEH thy Elohim: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: (11) For in six days YAHWEH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore YAHWEH blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

YAHWEH also proclaimed the Sabbath to be a sign between HIMSELF and HIS people forever. (One should be aware of the fact that people such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham and the believing Gentiles are also HIS people.) Notice! It was important enough to YAHWEH to impose a death penalty upon doing any work upon HIS (not the Jews') holy Sabbath Day!

Exodus 31 (13) Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily MY Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between ME and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am YAHWEH that doth sanctify you. (14) Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. (15) Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to YAHWEH: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. (16) Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. (17) It is a sign between ME and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days YAHWEH made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day HE rested, and was refreshed.

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There is much that can be stated against the current American society in which I live. One aspect that many people realize is a problem but can't seem to fix is the lack time together as a family. Time is often replaced with money but money is no compensation for time not spent with our children. A Sabbath keeper at minimum has one in seven days to spend with one's family. The Sabbath is cessation of all mundane daily work for the memorial rest in retrospect of the creation by Almighty Yahweh. From sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday it is mostly agreed that we are not to work but what can we do?

One of the blessings that we have the greatest impact on in our lives is our children and as with the anything the Sabbath gives our children an example by which they will raise their children. Children are not often given credit for their understanding because usually it is more simplistic than the complexities that we have come to dread. With Yahweh's word the simplicity is the beauty and as Yahshua said unless we become like the little children we will not inherit the Kingdom of Yahweh. So when it comes to the Sabbath and the training of our children their attention is must be directed toward Yahweh through our love and attention to them. The hardest thing with a child is directing their attention to the point of a lesson and as parents we need ask them what they see as the point, yes they can teach us too.

Over the years I haven't had the time on the Sabbath to sit down and discuss the scriptures with my children. Pleasingly to my wife and I the last few years Yahweh has really given us a strong will to make the time so that when the Sabbath comes our priority can be towards our little ones. It is an ever straightening path really because of the time and impact that I see in especially my seven year olds life. He will one day Yahweh willing know more than I could even imagine. The Sabbath as we know is a day of rest and I appreciate the Sabbath sometimes as just a day where I can enjoy Yahweh's creation, for example walking in the forest with my family maybe discussing the things at issue in our family maybe noting the beauty of something we never noticed before.

The idea of enjoying the Sabbath is not seeking one's own pleasure as some might insist but is truly a way to give glory to Yahweh. Things are constantly changing in our environment not much is left in man or in nature that is pure anymore. Yahweh commands that we are to train our children up in the way that they are to go and so an important part of our rest should be dedicated to passing on the love of Yahweh that is found in our heart to those who will with Yahweh's help be seeking His face after we are long gone.

Yah's family is larger than the Meyer family extending to all those who will follow Almighty Yahweh. The Sabbath day also presents a time when we can come together as brethren looking towards an ever closing kingdom together. As a Sabbath keeper we are showing the sign of Yahshua, the sign of Yahweh, the sign of the prophets in our lives to all who will see. Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifieth you.

I encourage you brethren to enjoy the Sabbath realizing that it is a time for the family. The only way to become closer to the family of Yah is to do what Yahweh commands and when it comes to Yahweh's children they are like the salt of the earth. As with any salt it causes thirst but the spiritual salt is a direct cause of the thirst of the Saints looking to a narrow path that leads to the living water from which eternal life flows.

There seems to be two types of idolatry in the scriptures, one physical concerning tangible items and the other spiritual which is not worshiping Yahweh with the right spirit. Israel's example at times represented both types of idolatry. The physical idolatry was a great thorn in the side of Solomon for example because he built for his wives temples which represented the wife's native religion and sovereignty. Having temples that competed with the Holy temple of Yahweh not only was incredulous but put in perspective Solomon's willingness to compromise for his wives. An example of the spiritual idolatry can be found in the Exodus by some of Israel asking to return to Egypt when times became rough. This spiritual idolatry was a thorn in Israel's side from the time that they left Egypt. Israel didn't really show appreciation of Yahweh's blessings in His release of them from bondage and even asking to return to the misery from which they were redeemed. Can you imagine this descent in retrospect of the powerful plagues that virtual destroyed the government of Pharaoh? The mind of a slave was to their master and Israel had not yet fully accepted Yahweh's dominion.

Idolatry if not put in check rears up in our worship and we must be willing to shed our extra baggage for the service of Yahweh. The first part of idolatry in this discussion is the worship of physical items; this is many times referred to as vanity. Money is perhaps the one most common tangible item that is worshipped.

The pursuit of money is such a problem because it places our faith in something other than Yahweh. Consider also that you are putting your faith in a currency that only has a value because your government attributes a value to it and that others accept that value which is in many aspects just an illusion of value. An example of where this illusion of value can be a problem is the currency of the previous Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) which value the currency equal to a dollar but the official exchange rate was pennies on the dollar. Some people believe that gold will always retain its value but as times get harder it is simply impossible to eat or wear the gold. Money is not what clothes your children, it is Yahweh. The money that Yahweh gives has to be used wisely and the time we spend earning money has to be gauged to the amount of time we spend before Yahweh and our families. Yahshua in the sermon on the mount made it crystal clear we cannot serve two masters mammon which is riches and Yahweh.

We must be willing to give up all our possessions. Many of the first messianic brethren gave all that they had to help the ministry as a sign of their willingness to follow Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah. Remember that it is not one's money that feeds or clothes them but it is by the blessings of Yahweh. Most of the examples of idolatry can be found referring to the confidence in something other than Yahweh for some kind of blessings. Idolatry with idols depends on faith in something other than Yahweh or focusing falsely the faith one has towards an object and referring to object as Yahweh's presence or blessings. Examples are numerous throughout the scriptures of these items. One such item was the golden calf. Israel grew impatient with Moses and really with Yahweh and desired a physical representation of Yahweh so they went back to what they knew from Egypt and fashioned a golden calf and called the calf Yahweh.

Israel erected this molten image because their faith faltered. When times get hard we must call on Yahweh and not depend on our own reasoning to get us out of hardships. There needs to be great vigilance when times are going well too. We must be meek, patient and moderate in our daily lives not working to be rich but be a good example of Yahweh's children in all things including business. The physical as you hopefully can see is intertwined with the spiritual. Spiritual idolatry, iniquity is leading a life not focused on Yahweh and the example that Yahshua gave us throughout his life.

Micah is speaking of the spiritual love of other's things through coveting and oppression. None of these things draw one closer to Yahweh rather they are a focus on providing for oneself above and beyond what Yahweh has given so much so that it becomes a person's entire life even to the point of laying up in bed devising unrighteous strategies. Spiritual idolatry is something that goes completely against the attitudes that Yahshua desires to see in us. Matthew 5 bares record that Yahshua spoke of the attributes that are a reflection of Yahweh's people. The life of Yahshua is the example that we are to follow never once claiming glory for oneself by always giving all praise to Yahweh.

When approached by a young ruler Yahshua said none is good except the Father. This young ruler had a strong will to follow Yahweh but his love of money troubled him when he was told to sell all that he had and come follow. The example given by Yahshua is to give the glory to Yahweh and the money that you have is blessing of Yahweh to be used in righteous undertakings.

How can I receive eternal life? Yahshua gives glory to Yahweh this is an example that we cannot disregard if we wish to receive eternal life. In this interaction Yahshua asked that what the young ruler sell his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. Without this willingness to submit to Yahweh our items become our goal so much that it is troublesome to give them up even for the kingdom of Yahweh. Over the years I have met many different brethren a few of which said they recognized their satisfaction in physical items and so they felt the only way to get over this strong desire they sold everything and started from scratch. That is a difficult road to follow one that we don't all need to go down but we must have the same desire for Yahweh willing to flee without any item.

Many scriptures refer to one's replacement of Yahweh with other items or thoughts. One example of how this is expressed can be found in Jeremiah 3 where idolatry is related to adultery between a man and a woman.

We are believers and are to be one with Yahweh! Like minded but when a spouse goes from one husband to the next she is not allowed to go back to the previous spouse because they can never again be one flesh. This is what Yahweh is expressing to Judah through the prophet Jeremiah that Israel's sin with other deities has polluted them and Judah continually working towards the same end has polluted themselves more than Israel. Israel was removed from Yahweh's land before this but it is a strong warning which Judah didn't heed leading to a large Jews population being led away captive by northern armies of Babylon.

Considering these things we must be watchful that we don't put our faith in anything other than Yahweh realizing that idols can be anything in our world that draws away from the worship and faith in Yahweh. We can't be like Israel and Judah sliding continually in sin, Yahweh's mercy endures for ever but if we continually return to sin and walk in iniquity our repentance is not true. There is strong condemnation of breaking the law of Yahweh.

The lists of items and thoughts that can be consider idolatry is endless. Some of the simplest things that become habits might be considered idolatry. An addiction psychologically to drugs or feelings moves your dependence from Yahweh to an item or thought. It must be a concern always to iron out what is really needed being able to live as simple as possible but realizing one's full dependence on Yahweh.

Idolaters will not be in Yahweh's kingdom and with a little spiritual sense we can sort out these things and be found worthy. It is not hard to see what takes away from the worship of Yahweh from the least of things to the greatest but with Yahweh's help we can divide our selves from evil by giving all glory to Almighty Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah.

Psalms 54

1 Save me, O Elohim, by thy name, And judge me in thy might.

2 Hear my prayer, O Elohim; Give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers are risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my soul: They have not set Elohim before them. Selah

4 Behold, Elohim is my helper: The Master is of them that uphold my soul.

5 He will requite the evil unto mine enemies: Destroy thou them in thy truth.

6 With a freewill-offering will I sacrifice unto thee: I will give thanks unto thy name, O Yahweh, for it is good.

7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble; And mine eye hath seen my desire upon mine enemies.

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