Paleo Times June 2001 Newsletter

Greetings Brethren,

I would like to start by apologizing for the sporadic nature of our latest mailings. This spring was busy for me because I have a full time job and teaching commitment at a local University. My wife and children have been helpful and I would like to thank them for being so patient with me. I would also like to thank each of you for your wonderful efforts and contributions to this ministry through writing, questions, comments, advice and tithe. All these pieces have been successful because of the guidance of almighty Yahweh. It is said that if we ask for more knowledge it will be given so let's each continue to ask and give thanks as we grow.

We would like to thank you for your donations. Some have asked about our tax exempt status. Please understand that we are not tax exempt and have no plans to be tax exempt. The benefits as listed by the IRS do not encourage us to become a tax exempt corporation. If you have looked at the laws concerning tax exemption you have an idea of why we are not considering even applying for the exemption. We do follow the law and pay taxes on all purchases. It should be reassuring that our list of donors are not of any concern of the US government and do not have to be disclosed. Your confidentiality is of utmost importance. We thank Yahweh for this freedom.

Yahweh Bless,

James A. Meyer

Please keep the following brethren and sisters in your prayers: Thelma Howard, Carrie McCall, Vivienne Martin, Vin Sanders, Norma and Clem Daulton - Norma is living with RSDA in her hand, wrist, and shoulder which is extremely painful. Clem's lower back and the two nerves that were pinched still give him a great deal of trouble., Shirley Smith, Margie Weaver, Pat and Irene May - Irene has been suffering a series of heart attacks, and each time the doctors just change the medication which is not helping. Pat has been very dependant on his wife, because he is also a heart patient, and has lost a leg with thrombosis., George W. Parks, Kevin Kelsey, John Clements, Keith Simmons, Ron Larson, Glenda Bolinsky, Samuel and Tina Ndoumbe, Nyasha Kerurah Rasyth And Mykal Rasyth, Carol Sedney, Nina McCord, Tom (Mordecai) and JoAnne Mitchell and sons Ariel and Ethan, John and Adriana Dupus, Joe Marshall, Freda Petersen, Jeff and Tammi Wilson, Diane Mastropaolo, Mary J. Thurman, Yahchan Andersen, Paul A. Andersen, Les Stoner, Marylyn Patterson, Scott Wright, The Morrow Family, Gloria M. Colon, Gary and Norma McDaniel, Anisa Norwood, Laura Pillars, Samm Morales, Steve Bock, Niyoka Carter, Rick Goldsmith, Mayra Solis, Yochann An'dersen, Kathy Stoner, Eva Vega, The Thomas Family, Donna Rose, Thelma Miller, Elizabeth L. Bryant, Deacon Joseph Butcher, Thomas James Hurley, Floriano Abenojar, Anita Garbes, and the many others striving to be better servants of Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah.

First and foremost, I thank everyone for their prayers for my Mom, Margie Weaver. Margie had all the signs of stage 3 lymphoma until she was placed on the prayer list and there is no cancer cells showing in her body at this time. We spent a week at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida for a series of test which showed a hernia where she had a previous surgery 11 years ago. (Not one of the doctors here found it, nor addressed it.) This will require extensive surgery but they want to wait until she is feeling better. Also, she has a small spot in the lung field of unknow origin. They don't seem to be too concerned but she goes back in a month for more tests. The main diagnosis seems to be the chance that she has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I have it myself and it is very frustrating, not knowing why you are constantly tired! I ask that you keep her in prayer, that the spot on her lung is nothing more than a freckle (she is not a smoker), and that her hernia surgery is a success. I would like you to add me to your prayer list as well. My name is Carrie McCall and I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and I am also bi-polar manic-depressive and I haven't been able to work since last August. These problems affect my ability to concentrate and I have filed for disability but have not been given or have been denied the benefits. Along with this I have chronic kidney and bladder infections and miagraine headaches, restless leg syndrome. I want more than anything to be healed. I am only 37 years old and I would like to return to work of some type. My previous employment was in data entry, insurance clerk in the medical field. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. May Yahweh bless you all and thank you again for your prayers.

The last New Moon was seen on May 23rd by a few brethren in the southwest US. The New Moon was seen in Jerusalem on May 24th at sunset and by brethren in the US. The next New Moon will most likely be seen June 22nd. Please look for this up coming New Moon and send us your report. We will share them with brethren around the world through the Paleo Times weekly email update. You can email your report to newmoon@paleotimes.org or call 573-896-8090.

I would like to invite you to visit my new Healthy Truths website, which is a small beginning of an expanding vision. Please read my testimony while you are there. The Sarah's Tent Ministry is sponsoring my web pages and the Healthy Truths egroup.

If you wish, you may subscribe to the Healthy Truths egroup while you are visiting my web pages OR you may subscribe by sending an email to the address below.

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You may choose to have every email posted come into your personal email in box, so that you can keep abreast of the teachings, what others are sharing, and those in need of prayer more quickly, or, you may choose to set your preference to "no mail/web only" so that you can go directly to the yahoo group list to read and post at your convenience. If you need help with this, please let me know.

If you have never been part of an egroup, it is a wonderful way to learn and grow, encourage and pray for others daily, share an inspirational, poem, or in general, share your love with the many other women in the faith around the world.

The vision and goals for the Healthy Truths egroup is stated below. There will also be a copy posted on the egroup list for subscribers to read.

VISION and GOALS FOR HEALTHY TRUTHS EGROUP

Healthy Truths is meant to be a healthy haven of rest to drop anchor when you need your mind and body renewed and your spirit energized by the Master and His Word.

The vision and goal of the Healthy Truths group is two fold.

1. A Teaching Ministry of:

2. To provide a healthy-safe harbor for people to drift into so that they may:

I know many of you have ministries, or work outside the home in some capacity, and some have their quiver full of little gems to care for. Neither should we forget that many (myself included) have various Chronic Disabilities, and are not able to spend a lot of time on the computer. When you subscribe you may, if you choose, set your email as "no mail/web only". This will make it possible for you to visit the Healthy Truths home page to read and post messages at your convenience, without your email inbox being flooded with messages.

Whether you are healthy and desirous of remaining in good health, or you suffer daily with a chronic disability, my prayer is that each of you experience the heavenly Father's Love through others here at Healthy Truths and that you find unconditional acceptance.

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.

Yesterday morning as I started to pray I was calling our Father's precious name, and loving Him as being our Abba Father (Papa Father). I started to ask Him a question but before I could finish it some thoughts were put in my mind.

I started to ask Him how could those that never knew a Fathers love come to Him loving Him as our Father.

I can't exactly express the thoughts given me but it went something like this with my adding here and there.

He is spirit and His love is spirit, and it is unlike our human love. He fills us with His Spirit, and with that we feel in our body, spirit, and whole being wonderful sensations. They can be from the feeling such great sweetness to the feeling like we are being hugged in the spirit from inside out by a wonderful incredible feeling of peace and love. At those times we know that we are loved, and through it we react to it by loving Him.

Even if we never knew our male parent, or had one that was cruel, indifferent, or what ever, how they treated us and how we love our Heavenly Father are not the same thing.

Human love is wonderful and through loving our children we realize just how much or heavenly Father loves us, is patient with us, merciful and forgiven and when Jack and I had our son we never knew the lessons we could learn through just having a child and knowing how our Father loved us. Yet in it all no matter how great our love was for him, for him nothing can compare with the Fathers love when he experiences it, and He does let us feel this love He has for us.

There is a base line of joy, peace and happiness there all the time, but at times when things are quiet, and you least expect it, it is like the windows of heaven have been opened up and His love is poured out in a flood that leaves you coming up for a gasp of breath due to its awesomeness!

How can we describe it? It takes on many forms at various times.

Incredible, awesome, so filling our whole being with His presence that we don't think we can take anymore due to its power.

Joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Peace beyond description.

Feeling so loved, so very loved.

Sometimes a feeling of delight.

Sometimes it leaves me wanting to just jump up and click my heels, and wishing I could actually do it.

Oh brethren, our Father loves us so much, and it is not lop sided. He gives us the ability through His Spirit to love Him with such a deep sweetness, to where we want to weep from the beauty of it, or wish we could just wrap our arms about Him holding Him and being held. We want to share our life with Him from the little delights we see to our sorrows. We can love Him so much that we actually want to just merge and be at one with Him.

All He is waiting for is for us to reach out and draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us.

Misunderstanding of this subject has caused great dissension amongst various believers and non-believers throughout history. The Bible student will quote:

13 For Adam was formed first, and Eve came afterwards.

14 Adam was not deceived, but the woman was thoroughly beguiled and became the first to fall into sin.

15 However women will find salvation by the bearing of her children, and continue to live in faith, love, and purity, blended with self restraint.

Reading this instruction, Paul gives the reason and clear indication that women are not to usurp authority over men in the assemblies. But we must take this further, reading verse 11 it states clearly "with complete submission."

What must she be submitted to? All men, or the Word of Yahweh?

When stating "man," it could be her father, husband, minister, or some man appointed higher authority namely a judge, or governor.

Now let us read verse 4 of the same chapter: "Who will have all men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the Truth"

We see that men are only given the right to this authority by his belief, and obedience to Yahweh's Word, and only then does he qualify for this position. I must emphasize I am only stating this type of scenario if we were in a "perfectly righteous" world.

Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception, in sorrow you shall bring forth children, and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you.

17 And to Adam He said, Because you have hearkened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you not to. Cursed is the ground for your sake, in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life;

18 Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to you, and you shall eat the herb of the field;

19 In the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken, for dust you are and unto dust you shall return.

So now we should understand that this law was not as many in this world say: "Just another law written by Paul" NO It is a law laid down by Yahweh Himself.

Yahweh gave Moses instructions to set up the Levitical priesthood, which was in effect until Messiah's death, leaving no doubt only male descendants of Levy were eligible to serve in the priesthood. We go further back to the era in Abraham's life where he tithed to the "King of Peace" "Order of Melchisedec" "Messiah our High Priest today" Scripture refers to this Priest in the male gender. In no way Scripture shows any such office as of a "priestess."

Hebrews 5: 5 So also Yahshua the Messiah did not glorify Himself in becoming a High Priest, but was appointed by the One who said to Him, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You";

6 as He says also in another place, "You are a Priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."

7 In the days of his flesh, Yahshua offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His total submission. (Note: Messiah's total submission, as previously mentioned a woman is also to be in complete submission to Yahweh.)

Psalm 110: 4 The Eternal has sworn and will not change His Mind, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

Now Let us see what the ministry is. As believers, we should know what the word "minister" means in Biblical terms.

Priests who ministered in the temple, served.

Ezekiel 45:4 It shall be a holy portion of the land; it shall be for the priests, who minister in the Sanctuary and approach Yahweh to minister to Him; and it shall be both a place for their houses and a holy place for the Sanctuary.

We read that angels are referred to as ministers, those who serve.

Matthew 4 :11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Yahshua's ministers are to be servants, even as far as being slaves!

Matthew 20:25 But Yahshua called them to Him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles master over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.

26 It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your minister,

27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave;

28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His Life a Ransom for many."

Let us look at the women's role, in the assembly. A beautiful illustration of a good, and industrious woman is recorded in Scripture.

Proverbs 31:10 A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from far away.

15 She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her servant-girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson.

22 She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant with sashes.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her:

29 "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Eternal is to be praised.

31 Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.

After reading this section out of Proverbs, we see nothing wrong with a wise woman investing in property, running a farm, making clothing, running a business, also with the correct qualifications, teaching at a school, college, or university.

With this in mind a woman believing in the Truth can serve so much more with that extra Spiritual Knowledge she has received, standing by her father, husband, family, and even if she were alone, edifying the assembly directly. There are many ways for her in serving without having to assume authority over those Yahweh has ordained to be over her by His Word.

Through prayer, and assisting in duties such as, nursing, teaching children, young ladies, even old people who are still children in the Truth. We also have "believing" wives with unbelieving husbands, this is where this law is hard to apply, but she can guide those around her with the wisdom that only comes from Yahweh.

The duty of the wife and mother is to help her husband run the home, and to help teach the children continually of the Truth, even the believing grandmothers duty does not stop, but to impart her wisdom to her family, standing by helping with duties such as mentioned in Proverbs, also teaching, and speaking to others of the Truth. She could have a gift of being able to tell, and explain Scriptural lessons in words which children would fully understand, and remember for the rest of their lives.

Woman in the assembly are not to be considered inferior to men, they are an important balancing factor in the running of the whole assembly. It would be advisable for those who are not familiar with the Book of Proverbs, to study it, and note how an All Wise Creator knew and understood the characteristic difference between a man and a woman, which to this day many in this world cannot ever understand. Yes there are times where Yahweh appointed woman to intervene to save His people, because the particular assignment suited Yahweh's Plan.

Paul himself commended, and named women in the assembly who were of great help in ministering to him and the assembly. Romans 16:1-16.

Finally with all this said and done, we can say: Yes there are women in the ministry, but they are not ministers as to the worlds point of view, with authority over congregations of people. With Yahweh's Word fresh in our memory, it is clear Yahweh means that woman are not to officiate, conduct, speak out, or preach in any service in any of the assemblies. But as mentioned before, there are many other important functions she can do to help the good running of the assemblies. Great and wonderful women are mentioned in the pages of Scripture, from young women to wives, mothers, and widows who have acted on Yahweh's Word with complete obedience giving us everlasting lessons in Faith towards our Creator.

When Paul cornered the Thessalonians with the phrase "prove all things" he was making a splash in the waters of faith and understanding that can still be felt today. The concept that understanding comes from proving our faith is Paul's message. Paul as an educated thinker of the time was the persecutor of the righteous. This persecution came from what he had been led to believe by the Pharisees of Paul's day. He didn't believe that Yahshua was the Messiah of Yahweh. How could he if he persecuted the followers of Messiah? Yet Yahshua apparently saw within him something that was hidden to the eyes of men. Yahshua worked on Paul physically by blinding him on the road to Damascus.

Paul had apparently a hard time seeing through out the rest of his life. Galatians 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Galatians 6:11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. Yahshua's visit to Paul woke him to an understanding that he was not on the path of light. Like Paul we at points in our lives are impervious to the truth.

What has awakened you? For some the loss of someone or something and others the thrill of learning but either way it is the Holy Spirit of Yahweh working in us. It is like waking up with a cold bucket of ice water being dumped on us. The sleep is broken suddenly and everything around us is noise because we are focused on the stimulant. The stimulant with ice water is the cold but with Yahweh the stimulant is the Holy Spirit. Yahweh's word is the cold water or the living waters.

There is a sleep though that completely ignores this cold water and that is death. In death we don't have any thoughts according to David, as he was inspired to write by almighty Yahweh. The death can be a physical or spiritual death. If you are reading this with amazement then there is hope for each of us.

Paul's inspired phrase "prove all things" should leave us with questions. The simplest question, is what I believe truth? Does it hold up to scrutiny of the scriptures and of the brethren? One of the most beautiful things is when someone tells you the plain truth. This is the kind of truth that may hurt a little but as you research it you find the narrow path. The search and striving for knowledge is a path that leads us towards Yahweh. The testing is imperative if we wish to receive salvation. Amos wrote that Yahweh will put a plumb line in the midst of His people.

Why an analogy of a plumb line? A plumb line is a weight of some type attached to a string and dangled so that the string becomes straightly taut. This is like the standard that Yahweh will judge us by. It will be equal among all of Israel no special treatment for anyone. This is the justice of Yahweh.

The justice of Yahweh should be of utmost importance to us since we are to follow Yahweh's laws. The goal is to emulate Yahshua the Messiah. Yahshua kept the feasts, he kept the Sabbath and he was a loving man to his flock. As an assembly of believers we are often met with the criticism that we are law keepers. Is this an insult or a complement? The critics of this faith feel that we are replacing what Yahshua had accomplished with a strict keeping of the law. This criticism is of a lack of understanding.

Yahshua said, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." (John 15:10) Were the commandment of Yahshua the commandments of Yahweh? Of course, what Yahshua taught is what has been taught since the beginning of time. The teachings of Yahshua are through example and further explanation. James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Faith and works go hand in hand. That is why we must prove our faith so that our works are upright. Do not accept anything without thoroughly testing it.

One sure test of any doctrine is having two witnesses. This means that for each thought have at least two scriptures that prove the same thing. Scriptures don't contradict each other. The teaching must be without contradiction to other teachings that are proven or fundamental. Sometimes this may mean that the fundamentals need to be evaluated. What you end up with is a loop that unless the whole picture is the result of the puzzle it needs to be reevaluated. Over time you will be questioned and examined closely for the things that you believe. Your personal character if it is not moral will also become suspect.

Imagine if after the Catholic Church was formed by Constantine that the whole world said okay we have the messenger of Yahweh before us in the pope. All we have to do is follow him. He is such a nice intelligent person. He will never lead us astray. The fact is that many grow up believing what their parents teach them and to a far extent that is important but when it is tested do you continue with it if it is improvable. Parents this lays on how your children are taught. Do you teach that this is the way it is or do you prove that this is the way it is? At first they may seem the same but when your children are tested they would be better off knowing why rather than just knowing. We too are the children of Yahweh if we follow him. Yahweh has given us the tool by which we are to prove all things. Yahshua gave us the example by which we are to prove all things.

Some ask how accurate our scriptures are today. It has been a long time since Moses wrote the Torah but due to the diligence of the scribes we find that our text is amazingly accurate to old texts like the Dead Sea scrolls and the Septuagint. It is also important to note that a lot of the newer texts are dropping what was not found in the oldest texts. The Greek scriptures (which were actually probably Hebrew) had a lot of added material but with newer translations they have compared texts of different periods and eliminated the additions.

Daniel said that knowledge will increase in the latter days. I do believe that we are in the latter days so the time is short but the resources that we have are exceptional. Computers have given us the ability to take any document and generate a searchable database. For me I can remember certain parts of a verse but usually not the exact verse. I can quickly search any book or the whole Bible for what I am looking and also search in English, Greek, Hebrew, etc. This of course should not replace reading. I have seen people search for scriptures that they twist to mean what they want. When forming any theory based on the scriptures context is important.

Sometimes you have context even within a verse. An example is found in James 5:11. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of Yahweh; that Yahweh is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. Is this the end of Yahweh? No, end can also mean goal as in this verse. Like the saying that "the end justifies the means" is referring to the goal of the situation. Even then we know that some say that Romans 10:4 is saying that Messiah is the end of the law. For Messiah is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Messiah is the goal of the law. He is exactly what we should emulate. The context of this verse points out that righteousness for those that believe. How can you have righteousness without a law to judge it by?

Yahweh's judgment of us will be by what we know and how we apply it. Ignorance is bliss as some would say but the reward of the first resurrection is much greater than the second. Yahweh's judgment like the plumbline will be based off the examples and laws that we have been given. Yahweh is merciful as we read in James 5:11. If we choose not to study and not to try to understand even when called we are blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

Yahweh has given us a mind and if we are called to be in the first resurrection we are given opportunity to understand. Yahweh has given us a major gift in the word, the example of Yahshua and the Holy Spirit to drive us. We must prove all things because Satan is the stumbling block that causes us to fall away. Which path will we choose?

I pray that we choose the path of Yahshua. The judgment of those in the first resurrection is now. We cannot be lukewarm! Yahweh Bless!