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http://www.paleotimes.org/newsletter/may00news.htmPaleo Times May 2000 NewsletterGreetings Brethren in Messiah, Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah has given us a chance at eternal life. June 11th is the Feast of Weeks which is the second time of the year that Yahweh commands His people to come together. This month Paleo Times' feature article is an explanation of the Feast of Weeks. This newsletter is also a call to all brethren who would like to help teach Yahweh's word to the world. We are over taxed with the response that brethren have given us. There are many well written articles waiting to be published to the net and other waiting to be printing. If you have talent and a desire to donate your time to Yahweh please let us know. The goal of this ministry is to reach those thirsty for knowledge. Please feel free to comment humbly on anything that we produce. This ministry is growing rapidly and we pray that we are maintaining the quality that the brethren desire and that is pleasing to Yahweh. Agape in Messiah, James Meyer Feature ArticleThis month's feature article is on the Feast of Weeks. It is unfortunately too long to be included in the newsletter so please follow this link: http://www.paleotimes.org/articles/feastOfWeeks1.html Edification for the AssemblyIf you would like to submit a literary composition that edifies the assembly please submit it to James Meyer. Please make sure that you label any submission and that you note that it is a submission for the newsletter. THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALLDaniel in chapter 5 presents one of the Bible's most colorful stories, set at a feast given by the Babylonian ruler Belshazzar. The king was drinking from vessels plundered from the Jewish temple at Jerusalem. During the feast, a strange disembodied hand appeared and wrote mysterious words on the palace wall: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. Belshazzar was so terrified that, "his knees knocked against each other." The faithful Jew Daniel appeared and interpreted the message, which meant that Yahweh had brought the Babylonian Empire to an end and given it over to the Medes and Persians. That very night Belshazzar, king of Babylon, was killed, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom. Artists have delighted in capturing this event on canvas, and the great Rembrandt's painting Belshazzar's Feast is only one of many. HOLIER THAN THOUToday we connect the phrase "holier-than-thou" with a self-righteousness attitude. In the scriptures Yahweh condemned this attitude and mocked the words of self-righteous people: "I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; a people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face, sacrificing in gardens, and burning incense upon bricks; that sit among the graves, and lodge in the secret places; that eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; They also followed pagan ideas of holiness or separation...which they say, 'Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am HOLIER THAN YOU.'" Isa. 65:2-8. These sins stand written in Yahweh's account books. THE VOICE OF THE TURTLEDo turtles sing? According to the Song of Solomon 2:12. "The time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." The 'turtle' is the turtledove, not a singing reptile. John Van Druten titled one of his plays. "The Voice of the Turtle," and the movie version starred an actor and President of the United States named Ronald Reagan. A BOOK OF PROPHECIES BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUSThe old rhyme goes "In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue." Why did he sail, when people called him a crackpot for his idea of reaching Asia by sailing west? Curiously, Columbus embarked on his famous voyage guided by the Bible. He believed his voyage across the Atlantic fulfilled a prophecy from Isaiah 46:11, about Yahweh summoning one from a far country. Most commentators suppose the ravenous bird, the bird of prey, is a picture of a ruthless conqueror such as Cyrus. However, Cyrus was not ruthless. He destroyed no Mesopotamian cities and he honored the gods of Babylon. It is likely that this refers to Sennacherib, who was ruthless and who did carry off the gods of Babylon in Isaiah's own day. The Assyrians appear to be Yahweh's rod of correction. Columbus was wrong in one respect: He never reached Asia, even though he was convinced he had. After his third voyage to the New World, Columbus wrote A Book of Prophecies. In it he explained how his voyages had fulfilled many prophecies in the Bible. He was convinced that, "neither logic nor mathematics aided me." Rather, the prophecy of Isaiah was completely fulfilled. Only according to Columbus. THE BAY PSALM BOOKThe first book printed in America was not the Bible, since English law required that all Bibles be printed in England. But the first American book was Bible related, it was The Whole Book of Psalms faithfully translated into English mitre. Since it was printed in the Massachusetts Bay colony, it became known as the Bay Psalm Book. Several ministers had made the translation of the Psalms into English rhyme. Stephen Day printed the book in 1640, and the book was so well liked that Day was given three hundred acres of land in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for being the first that set upon printing. The New England Puritans did not approve of singing any hymns except the words of the Bible and the Bay Psalm Book qualified. Its verses were not only read but also sung, so it was America's first book and its first hymnal. AMERICA'S FIRST BIBLEThe first Bible written in America was not English, but the Algonquin Indian language. John Eliot, colonial pastor and 'apostle to the Indians', published his Algonquin Bible in 1662. At that time, law required that all English Bibles be printed in England. Pennsylvania probably holds the record for places with the most Bible names. Many of the state's early settlers were deeply religious followers of Quakers, Amish, and German Reformed Christians who believed they were building a new "holy land" in America. POSITIONS FOR PRAYERKneeling is the usual position for prayer, along with bowing the head. Is this the 'Only Bible-approved' position? Yes or No? Some people do pray while kneeling. But some people prayed while standing Jer. 18:20; sitting 2 Sam. 7:18; even lying facedown Matt. 26:39. Some people prayed with hands lifted up, which is now becoming common again 1 Kings 8:22, 1 Tim. 2:8. People prayed alone Matt. 6:6 and in groups Acts 4:31. They prayer in an open field Gen. 24:11-12; in the temple 2 Kings 19:14-15; at a riverside Acts 16:13; on a seashore Acts 21:5; in bed Ps 63:6; and on a battlefield. Only one verse in the Bible hints that people bowed their heads while they prayed: King Hezekiah and his officials "bowed their heads and worshipped" 2 Chron. 29:30. What about closing the eyes while praying? The Bible never mentions it. It doesn't mention placing the hands together, either. Praying silently is a standard procedure today. The scriptures indicates most people prayed aloud, even when they were alone. Hannah, who gave birth to the great prophet Samuel, was accused of being drunk by the priest Eli when he saw her praying silently: Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and scolded her. Hannah replied that she was not drunk but merely pouring out her feelings to Yahweh 1 Sam. 1: 9-15. by Mona Perry Teachable MomentsJohn, my four-year-old son, was playing with a neighbor boy. The boy didn't have a bike to ride. John, with no prompt from me, offered to take turns with his bike. I, the proud parent, "That's great John that you are being kind and sharing your bike. Yahweh wants us to be kind to others." John smiled from ear to ear. Now John does not always share and he is not always kind, but that day he was. I saw this as a "teachable moment". A time to teach John that sharing was an act of kindness and a command of Yahweh. In the book The Family Virtues Guide Popov wrote:
In the Holy Scripture, Deuteronomy 6:4-7, "Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our Elohim is one Yahweh: And you shall love Yahweh thy Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart: And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up." Our daily life possesses multiple amounts of teachable moments. We as parents and grand parents are commanded to teach the way the child must go any time we find it. I have been a Yahwist for over five years. What I have noticed in most fellow believers is the unique parenting skills. I observed that most of these parents share four key principles to rearing their children:
Yahweh has given us His children as a gift. The child is not the gift. Having the privilege to raise His children is the gift. To serve Yahweh is to be reliable, virtues parents to His children. Many social-psychology studies and just viewing the world around us indicate that children learn about social behavior mostly by examples portrayed by adults. So, for the Body of Yahshua to fully obey all of Yahweh's commandments we need to examine, establish, and exercise Yahweh's parental instructions. We intend to delve into further the five key principles of child rearing stated above in future newsletters. If you have family stories about those teachable moments please submit them. (lpmeyer@paleotimes.org) It's great for other parents to know they are not alone in experiencing the trials of parenting.
by Laura Meyer Second New Moon - May 4thWe have had confirmation that the new moon was sighted in Arizona on May 4th. Most new moon reports in the US were on May 5th. The next new moon should be visible June 3rd. Please take the time to look for the 3rd new moon of the Biblical year. When you see it let us know at New Moon. Offer of a BrotherBrother Greg would like to contact and help any believers in Yahweh who are deaf. Greg would like to help these brethren and sisters, so if you know anyone with this handicap please let them know that Greg is here to help. Greg can be contacted at Greg. Prayer ListPlease keep the following brethren and sisters in your prayers: Celestino Villalta, Maryanne and Jay Golub, Diane Nieuwendyk, Jean Phillips, Everett Lee Larned - Lee is going through some hard times with his heart. Recently he went through surgery to fix his heart but it is still giving him problems., Solomon Newton, Joe and Linda Jafar, Rudy Ziegler, Carole Mericle, Gerald Cochrane, Randy Tolman, Freda Petersen, William and Marion Hamm, Scott. (Yahyl) Walker, Carla Ford, Lorna P. Frias, Guadalupe Alvarez, Henry Johnson, Evelyn Lane, Marsha Anderson, Mary Butler, Theresa Elliott, Steve Bush, Glenn and Jody Glover, Ann Quick, Ted Boushy, Andy Henry, Megan Taé Stanton, Darren Holliday, Maureen McKinsey, Tim McCabe Family, Luin Francke, Victor M. Ramirez, Sr., Segundino Vergara, Constantino Gubat, Earl and Lisa Friberg, Marylyn Patterson, Kaiti Faith Pletz, Jason and Amy Pletz, William and Angela Money, Joe and Esther Daveiga, Beatrice Nelson, Pam Crowe, Ana Ybanez, Daniel Harrom, Berry R. Rose, Sr., Jak & Kay van Dyk, Barbara Boss, Phyllis Saforek, Jeffery and Karen Leak, Bob Wells, Tyler Austin Hoover, Mary Jean Vacca, and the many others striving to be better servants of Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah. http://www.paleotimes.org/prayerlist.htm FellowshipThe fellowship list is quickly growing. There are so many brethren and sisters who would love to have like believers to meet with and to discuss biblical topics. http://www.paleotimes.org/fellowship.htm ArticlesArticles are written by brethren from all points of the globe. This will give you a variety of backgrounds yet one understanding given by the Holy Spirit of Yahweh. http://www.paleotimes.org/articles.asp
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