Sunday, June 6, 2004 Greetings brethren, I am writing a little earlier this month to to ask that you keep Donna and Berry Rose in your daily prayer. Brother Berry wrote: Brother Jim, Donna is in the hospital due to this problem. Unreal, let me tell you about it in case it happens to some one you know or family. Of course she has had problems but they have been treated and she is on the road to recovery. Talking about stomach surgery. But last Sunday, a week ago today she was nauseated. We had a current prescription for Phenergan which is for nausea so I got it filled. She took three in a twelve hour period as directed. After the second one, she told me her nausea was about gone. When we went to bed everything was okay. About two or three AM she woke me calling my name and I found her in our living room completely disoriented. This went on all through the rest of the night or morning. The pharmacy was closed on Memorial Day but she did better until about the same time that night or early morning. Tuesday I called the pharmacy and asked about the medication, his reply was for her to stop taking it because it is probably causing the affect. Wednesday seemed she was coming out of it again until the wee hours of the morning and this time it was awful. Hallucinations of fire, seeing people who of course were not there and all morning I spent assuring her those things did not exist. Come Thursday I took her to the emergency room where they did a CT Scan, Spinal Tap and Blood Work. They could find nothing but admitted her to ICU. Today, I left her she was lucid with conversations between us but then she would start talking to people not there, hallucinations again. Before leaving I asked the doctor in his professional opinion did he think she would ever be herself. His reply was a definite yes. BUT, in MY humble opinion it is going to take a touch from Yahweh. Please continue remembering her in your prayers. Every day we remember you and yours and people on the prayer list that you maintain. You are doing a wonderful thing with that ministry which is much needed and I think brings international prayer. Sorry to keep on and on, just wanted you to maybe understand what is happening and maybe prevent someone you know from this ordeal. Remember it is a medication named Phenergan. It is used a lot in the hospitals especially after surgery. But if ones system does not tolerate it, there will be literally hell to pay mentally. Shalom to you and yours, Berry
Please send you letters of encouragement to brother Berry at berrydonna@juno.com. He is an excellent brother and I look forward to one day meeting Berry and Donna in person. I would like to also invite anyone interest in purchasing the Scriptures, Memorial Scroll, that this month the publisher is offering free shipping on orders over twenty-five dollars. You can order the Memorial Scroll online at http://www.lulu.com/paleotimes or contact me if you would like to use a check. I encourage you if you are familiar with the KJV and the ASV this copy of the Scriptures is based on the ASV. I am also working on a copy of the Memorial Scroll in a more modern version of English. If you would like to help in this process please send me an email and I make sure have information on the process of making revisions. This is also a last call for 2004 Scriptural Calendars. Please send your mailing address to Calendar Request and your request will be filled shortly. Yahweh bless, James A. Meyer Come Out from Them and be Separateby Mike Blackburn and James Meyer Homosexual marriage in Massachusetts affects the entire country not just the Citizens of the Bay State. Besides the equal protection clause contained within the improperly ratified 14th Amendment, scholars suggest that the original wording contained in Article 4, Section 2 of the Constitution entitles married homosexuals recognition in the several States. Certainly, just as soon as another State challenges one of these unholy unions, the Supreme Court will no doubt confirm what many already fear will happen, namely that gay marriage and sodomy will be legal throughout the United States. Most are aware of the recent high court's decision invalidating a Texas State law prohibiting sodomy. Homosexual marriage and legalized sodomy have caused strong polarity within our country, but not as powerful as one might think considering that both the Old and New Testament make it clear that sodomy is unacceptable to Yahweh. It seems that the sodomites within this country and Canada, which recently allowed same sex marriages, have convinced a large part of the population that their sin is acceptable. The terrible fact is that most churches don't teach any different out of fear of the majority, which sympathizes with the sodomites. A recent poll found that 51% of Americans sympathize with homosexuals desiring to get married. Sodomy is just one of the many sins of this society. For example, abortion seems illogical even for those who don't consider themselves religious due to the large population of those looking to adopt children. Now lets consider Israel. When Israel became too evil, Yahweh divorced them (Jeremiah 3:8); leaving parts of Levi, Judah, and Benjamin in the land of Judah to the south, but totally removing the ten northern tribes (Ephraim). Judah, to the south, too had to pay for their sins and were eventually exiled to Babylon for a time and today are commonly referred to as Jews. But like Israel, a majority of our population has closed their minds to Yahweh's call and has turned to the anti-messiah for redemption. The fact is that immorality is destructive to all who involve themselves in it. The spirit of the anti-messiah according to John was at work already in his day. It is the spirit that denies Yahshua ha Mashiyach through word and action (1 John 4:3). Redemption from this world is not through any other sacrifice than the Passover fulfillment through Yahshua Ha Mashiyach. The problem has been and continues to be that the edification of oneself by seeking one's own pleasure is immorality. Our goal as Israelites is to be friends and brethren to Yahshua, priests of the Most High Yahweh. When the Jews returned to the Promised Land from captivity in Babylon, they were given a choice, continue as they lived in Babylon or change towards Yahweh (Nehemiah 1:8-9). The choice of living by Yahweh's word is a hard one for the whole population. When Paul brought the message of returning to Yahweh to the scattered tribes of Israel (Ephraim), its acceptance provoked jealousy by the Jews. But Paul had great success with the common people because they were not overburdened with the keeping of endless Talmudic traditions, as were the descendants of Judah and Benjamin. Paul, many times, escaped with his life just to reach another town where the people were also against the message of salvation through Yahshua ha Mashiyach. One of the first messages, according to Paul's own letters, was the message of salvation through Yahshua. This wasn't anti-Torah or anti-Judah teaching, as some would have you believe. Rather, it was a lesson drawn from the word of Yahweh about the truth of the Messiah. Paul spent a lot of time explaining how Yahshua fulfilled the law by quoting the Prophets and the Torah. It is important to remember that the New Testament didn't yet exist at this time and Paul was able to convince others that Yahshua was the Messiah purely from the Old Testament, an accomplishment that regrettably most Messianics are unable to replicate today. We read in Acts that when the Jews had heard false accusations against Paul concerning the teachings of the Messiah they gathered to condemn him (Acts 21:27-32). Paul, seeing that he was going to be put to death, declared he was a Roman Citizen. This declaration was the will of Yahweh delivered to Paul by the prophet Agabus (Acts 21:11). Through this ordeal, Paul was put in prison and requested that his case be presided over by Caesar. While in Rome, Paul was put under the care of a soldier that watched over him (Acts 28:16). Once in Rome, Paul called together the Jews of Rome and the outlying areas to testify unto them the salvation message of Yahshua. Acts 28:23 states, "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of Yahweh, persuading them concerning Yahshua, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening." Yahshua's message and existence being proven out of the Tanakh had to be powerful, because the representative of the group said everyone is talking against Paul's sect. The value of expounding upon this message was that Yahweh's promise to Abraham through Isaac includes the northern ten tribes (translated as nations or gentiles), also sometimes referred to as Israel or Ephraim. This is a message of reconciliation of a brotherhood that had been divided since the time of Solomon. The Talmudic law included into the Torah by Jewish tradition is added as a stumbling block preventing those who would whole-heartedly follow Yahweh from ever touching pure Torah. The brethren that are being grafted into the twelve tribes of Israel would have been restricted to the outer court, the court of the gentiles. Yahshua's redemption of the repentant opened up the inner court to all brethren who follow Yahweh purely and are no longer considered gentiles, but fellow citizens of Israel (Ephesians 2:11-22). Yahshua explained that righteousness was not found in minimum required acts of kindness but in the true acts of generous love, which are found in the heart of a man who is a disciple of Yahshua in the faith of Yahweh. Why is the Torah a principal part of the scripture and the faith of Yahweh? Simply, the Torah is an expansion on the central idea of love of Yahweh and of our fellow man. Torah is simply Yahweh's righteousness and truth, not ours or the latest decision to come down from the Supreme Court. Neither Yahweh nor His Law changes (Malachi 3:6, Matt 5:17-20). Considering, if you love your fellow man you will not hurt him or even have hurtful thoughts toward him. All things should be done to others out of love. The first part of this is the love of Yahweh. Yahweh only asks that we abstain from impurity. Yahweh in return gives us many blessings (and trials) that culminate in the Sabbaths. The impurity that this world would like you to partake of or have you condone is against Yahweh's Law. Being quiet about such things is a basically condoning sin. Consider Israel once again. As a people, the northern ten tribes (Ephraim) were given some of the best land, a huge blessing to an agrarian society, but they chose to set up high places to worship Ba'al and Molech throughout the land that Yahweh had blessed them with. Through the impurity of worshipping Ba'al and Molech, Israel's blessings were turned to curses. Their land was not just valuable to Israel but also to the Assyrians and Babylonians. Israel's impurity had to be cleansed from the land. Yahshua's sacrifice is to pay the price of redemption for Israel. When Yahshua returns he will gather Israel together into the land promised to Abraham. Needless to say Israel was taken away to captivity. But even though not every man, woman, and child was sinning against Yahweh, the fact is that because of their choice not to fight the evil, all of Israel suffered. This ought to be a lesson for us today. We need to make a stand against impurity! Don't accept it in any way! That means monitoring what we support through purchases - especially in regard to the entertainment industry. We need to make public statements about what we believe; abortion and sodomy are not acceptable! We must not compromise on any of these things. And if homosexual marriage and sodomy become the law of the land, we must be prepared to separate ourselves from the impurity of the United States and join fellow Messianics (visit ChristianExodus.org). We must never allow our families to suffer the same fate as the Israelite families of the past. Yahshua's New Covenant people are not to be "like the gentiles." Instead, we are to "come out from them and be separate" (Matthew 5:47; 6:7; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:5; 1 Peter 2:12). The best way to prove these things is to bring one's standard up to the scriptures. For example, there are no small sins (Matthew 5:19; Deuteronomy 27:26; James 2:10-11). Lying and murder are both sins comparable to sodomy. One must fairly consider that disobedience to Yahweh under Torah earned a death sentence. Through Yahshua we shall be united against the evils of this world. 1 John 2:3,4 states, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." And John also makes it clear to us what "sin" is, "Whosoever commits sin transgresses the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." How did we get to the point where an openly gay minister becomes a Bishop? The problem is that sodomy is seen as a victimless crime. Unfortunately, there are victims brethren! Imagine children growing up in such situations where their parents are two men or two women. The children are certainly victims! Statistics show that sodomites are much more promiscuous than heterosexuals, and so according to statistics, little Billy and Sally might have several daddies or mommies. Sodomy is an unfruitful and sinful union. The question of what would happen to the population if sodomy became the norm seems to have found an answer with the advent of cloning. There are of course major problems with cloning because of the high rate of genetic defects. The average life expectancy for a sodomite is roughly 38 years, so the reduced life expectancy for a clone might not be a problem. Yahweh will in turn punish the population with plagues as it is written (Deuteronomy 11:17-18; Haggai 1:9-11). Perhaps genetically engineered crops are the secular answer to Yahweh's plague. These crops are made to withstand natural deterrents like the lack of rain and so forth but the result of these changes are unknown. The effects of these changes are so uncertain that the European Union will not allow genetic engineered crops into their member nations. This might all change with a change in weather. One might ask, "Where is Yahweh's intervention?" It is here brethren, but the trial of these things hopefully will help our walk in that we examine where we need to change. This world is attempting to destroy us but we must be persistent and just in our own lives for Yahweh's will to be evident. The changes that have taken place over the last 30 years are extreme to say the least. I pray that we move closer to Yahweh through Yahshua ha Mashiyach. When many of the Jews returned from Babylon there was a restoration. We have seen the beginnings of it through the many ministers of Yahweh in our time delivering a Scriptural message, but the message of Yahweh has to start in one's own home (Deuteronomy 6:7-9; Exodus 19:3-6). Putting away or divorcing one's self from evil is a hard thing to do, especially since evil is not always clearly visible. The benefit of divorcing one's self from evil is that one accepts the responsibility of being Israel. Yahshua's message to the dispersed nation of Israel is that change has always been desired for the people. Let's continue by studying Romans 1:26-27. "26 For this reason Yahweh gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error." One of the so-called ministers at the conference that elected the unnatural bishop to office said in an interview that he had no scripture against the sodomite. Romans 1:26-27 is a scripture to have ready in such cases. Note that the penalty of their error, as Paul put it, is in reference to death. The verses that precede this scripture don't help the sodomite cause either. "24 Therefore Yahweh gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about Yahweh for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amein." (Romans 1:24-25) Those who continue in sin are given a strong delusion so that they might believe a lie. Most of the Anglican Church seems to have fallen into this black hole. The only way out is change, repentance, and to separate ourselves from an unholy nation. Leviticus defines sexual perversion pretty plainly. It leaves no room for interpretation and is as clear as Paul's message. Leviticus defines the perversion of animals for sexual purposes as a sin. Leviticus 18:22-24 states, "22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. 23 And you shall not lie with any beast and defile yourself with it, neither shall any woman give herself to a beast to lie with it: it is perversion. 24 "Do not defile yourselves by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am casting out before you defiled themselves;" As Leviticus 18 states, these sins defile the land and as a consequence, Yahweh will cast those guilty of these sins out of the land. "10 If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death. 11 The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall be put to death, their blood is upon them. 12 If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death; they have committed incest, their blood is upon them. 13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them. 14 If a man takes a wife and her mother also, it is wickedness; they shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness among you. 15 If a man lies with a beast, he shall be put to death; and you shall kill the beast. 16 If a woman approaches any beast and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and the beast; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them." (Le 20:10-16) Leviticus 20 puts within context many sexually immoral acts including adultery, bestiality, etc. The sins listed here were punishable by death. Our current society doesn't subject itself to the torah but we can see some of the law in our legal system. Justice is not in our hands but we can make a loud cry to have justice restored. One other thing to consider is that since justice isn't immediate under our legal system, sinners are given ample opportunity to repent. We have an enormous role in the salvation of our families and that is where purity has to begin. Purity honors our heavenly Father and His son Yahshua Ha Mashiyach. We must consider each step in life knowing that Yahshua stands beside us and is deeply hurt by any sin we might commit. In the same breath we must make it evident that we uphold Yahweh's law and that we are working towards following the example of Yahshua. Sins are considered equal because there is no small amount of space that we can put between us and Yahweh. Each time we sin or refuse to confess our faith we move off Yahweh's narrow path. Sodomy in this light will never be sanctioned because it is destructive to all that Yahweh intends for a family. Sodomy will not prevail just as abortion and adultery will never prevail. Let Yahweh's spirit guide you towards action against the diminishing morals. Your first action needs to be the teaching to your children the law of Yahweh so that they have a foundation of life. For an impact in your community, I recommend calling or mailing local pastors asking them to teach against the diminishing morals of our society. A lesson from Paul might be well placed when voicing Yahweh's word. When Paul was among the Jews he respected their customs. The practice of symphonizing with others is helpful when calling others to action just as Paul did in his ministry (Acts 17:22). This is a valuable service for our fellow citizens; please encourage others to do likewise. Consider Yahshua's words of hope upon repentance. "4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of Yahweh over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:4-10) Copies of this are available by request for Christian audiences. |
