Resolution (Firmness of Purpose)

 How can you keep your resolution to eat healthier this year?

(My daughter Miranda wrote this post due to her passion for living healthy with a little reformatting from me.)

I recently attended a holiday brunch where there was a beautiful spread of food. It started with appetizers then went to salads then to main dishes and finally to desserts. We went through the line like a buffet. At the end, one of the ladies looked down at my plate which was not very full and said it was no wonder how I maintain my girlish figure. In which case I thought, I do that through exercise, not through not eating. In fact, I have no problem with eating. I eat three meals a day and usually a snack or two. I eat as much as anybody in my family if not more. So, if this was supposed to be one of my meals for the day, then why did I have so little on my plate? Simple, most of the food there was not really a healthy choice. I believe in feeding my body the right things.

Why do we find it so important to take care of our bodies? Why is it that around this time a year we make resolutions to lose weight, to exercise more, and to eat better? What is our drive as the Children of Truth (those who obey The Father of Truth because they love Him) to fulfill these resolutions?  Our society encourages these drives by telling us what beauty looks like.  A good looking man is tall, dark, handsome, and buff. A good looking woman has a small waist line, has no wrinkles, and looks forever 21. Is this what drives us as followers of the Man of Truth? It should not be.

What should drive us as followers of the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) is recognizing that under the Renewed Covenant (B'rit Chadashah aka The New Testament) through the Man of Truth that our body is the temple of the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) and it does not belong to us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  If our body is the place where the Spirit of Truth lives then we want to make sure that it is the best possible place for the Spirit of Truth because the Spirit of Truth is also the same as the Father of Truth in nature (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).  I know I do.  So how do we make sure that we are taking proper care of our bodies?  Well, we could follow the advice of modern physicians or we could look to see what the Great Physician has to say about it.  And where do we look to find such information?  In the Book of Truth (The Bible), of course!

In the Book of Truth you will find the answers on how to be healthy (i.e. the best possible shape our temple can be from the inside out).  What is one of the best ways to make sure that you are healthy on the inside and the outside?  By what you eat!  There are the obvious choices such as not eating a lot of sugary food or high calorie foods with little nutrition but the Book of Truth tells us specifically what to eat and what not to eat.  A lot of the Children of Truth think that since we are under the Renewed Covenant that the Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law) is has no meaning for us. Of course, if this was really the case then we would not need the whole Original Covenant (Tanach aka Old Testament) to begin with.  We could simply grow in the faith and knowledge that we need from the Renewed Testament.  The Book of Truth would certainly be shorter and easier to read that way. However, the Man of Truth tells us that He did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).  If the Man of Truth fulfilled it and did not destroy it, then we should probably pay attention to it.

Our faith is built upon the foundation of the Renewed Covenant written by the Apostles of Truth and the Original Covenant written by the Prophets of Truth (Ephesians 2:20-2). The entire Book of Truth came from The Father of Truth so that the Children of Truth could reach full maturity (Timothy 3:16-17). This is why things in the Renewed Covenant align with things in the Original Covenant, so let us explore what the Renewed Covenant has to say about our eating habits.

First let us take a look at the diet of the Man of Truth. After all, he should be example in all things in life, right? That is part of the reason he came to Earth in human form was so he could model the proper lifestyle so that the Children of Truth would no longer live in darkness (John 12:46).  The Man of Truth was Jewish (Matthew 2:2).  The Man of Truth followed the Law of Truth that was given to the Jews by His Father so that no one could convict him of sin (John 8:46).  The Father of Truth told the Jews if they were to follow that Law of Truth then they would have a long healthy life (Exodus 23:25-26).

The Man of Truth chose to only eat what His Father said was good to eat because he had faith that the Father of Truth had greater understanding of the limits of a human body and knew why we should only consume certain foods. The Man of Truth lived by faith in His Father (1 John 3:4).  The Children of Truth are to also live by faith in their Father (Hebrews 10:38-39).  They should in like manner keep His commandments because they have faith in Him like the Man of Truth (Revelation 14:12).

Also a common argument is often made with the dream of Peter. In this dream, the Father of Truth sends down on a sheet with a whole bunch of animals for Peter to eat that as a Jew he would never even consider eating (Acts 10:9-13). Peter tells Him that he would never defile himself in such a way by eating something unclean (literally “unable to be cleaned from pollution”) (Acts 10:14).  The Father of Truth states that what He has cleansed of pollution is alright to eat (Acts 10:15). This repeats 3 times (Acts 10:16). Peter did not understand what this vision meant when the Gentiles came to him (Acts 10:17). Then shortly after the vision, Peter understands that the Father of Truth was telling him that He could cleanse the Gentiles from the pollution of sin (Acts 10:28).

In the Rabbinical law that was added by men to the Law of Truth, it was unlawful to eat with Gentiles (anyone not Jewish) because they were considered not able to be cleaned from sin. This man-made tradition was no more the commandment of the Father of Truth than their commandments concerning washing cups and pots (Mark 7:6-8). So He was saying that Gentiles could be cleansed by the blood of the Man of Truth to become as clean the Jews that had been cleansed by his blood (Acts 11:17-18). Anyone, Jew or Gentile, that had been cleansed through his blood is no longer polluted by sin (1 John 1:7).

 

So, all in all, this passage has absolutely nothing to do with eating. It was simply a metaphor from the Father of Truth.  This vision was no more about Him making all animals clean to eat than the parable of the sower was farming advice from His Son (Matthew 13:3-8).  The Father of Truth, who gave of the vision, told the meaning of the vision just like how Jesus, who told the parable of the sower, gave the meaning of the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:18-23).  Who are we to apply a different meaning other the one given in the Book of Truth?

In addition, even if it was not symbolic, the Father of Truth had only cleansed those exact animals on the sheet - not every animal on Earth.  Since the animals floated down on a giant sheet, my guess is they came from Heaven, not the Earth anyway.  So this is not a reasonable argument that we are going to be healthy while eating the food that He has declared as polluted (unclean).  We should want what is best for our bodies and food that is recommended by Him is what is best for our body.

So where do I find the list of the right things to eat for my body?  I find it in the Book of Truth where there are no lies about how I can live a blessed, healthy, and full life.  So I suggest that you make it your New Year resolution to dig deeper and find out what the Book of Truth tells you about how to take care of your temple so that you are eating in the House of Truth.

Of course, in the long run it does not matter what you eat if you do not come into the House of Truth.  You need to come into the House of Truth so that the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) can help you keep this resolution (John 16:13).  You come into the House of Truth when you give control of what you eat and everything else in your life to the Man of Truth because you believe that His Father raised him from the dead (Romans 10:8-10).

Come into the House of Truth.

Gifts from the Tree!

What are the best gifts that anyone can ever get from a tree?

The answer to this question can be understood, by a story about a kind and generous man, who gave gifts from a tree.

There was once a kind and generous man, who gave out gifts to everyone in town.  The kind and generous man knew everyone well enough, to know what each person was made to do.   So the kind and generous man gave each person, some gifts that helped them, do what they were made to do.  The kind and generous man enjoyed it, when people used their gifts as they were intended.

Some people used their gifts to help other people, as the kind and generous man, had intended.  The kind and generous man was very happy, when this happened.

Other people abused their gifts, which made the kind and generous man sad.  Some people abused their gifts, by using them to hurt other people.  Some people abused their gifts, by hiding them away, instead of using them.  Some people did not even bother to open their gifts, to find out what they had been given.

Some people appreciated the kind and generous man for giving them their gifts, but others did not even acknowledge, that their gifts had been given to them, by the kind and generous man.

The kind and generous man did not try to take back their gifts, when they did not use the gift as intended, because each gift belong to whomever, he had given it to.  Each person could do whatever they wished with their gifts, but the kind and generous man had warned them, that they would have to one day give an account, for how they had used their gifts.

The kind and generous man also had one priceless gift, that he hung on a tree.  The kind and generous man wanted more than anything, to have more children, so he gave this priceless gift, so that anyone could become a child, of the kind and generous man.  This priceless gift was available to everyone regardless of who they were, what they had done, or how they looked.   All they had to do was come to the tree, and receive the priceless gift.   The kind and generous man was able, to make whoever came to the tree, to be worthy to receive an inheritance, from him.

The kind and generous man also had some special gifts, that were for only his children, that he placed in his house.  The priceless gift gave his children, the right to come into the house, so they could obtain to all the other special gifts, that were meant for them.  There was no way to obtain the special gifts, without coming into the house, and the only way to come into the house, was to receive the priceless gift.  These special gifts were also gifts from the tree, because they could only be obtained by first coming to the tree.

The kind and generous man then eagerly waited in the house, to give out these gifts from the tree, to anyone who would come in.

The Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) is like that kind and generous man.  The Father of Truth created each person (Genesis 1:27).  The Father of Truth gave each person, what they needed to accomplish His will in the Earth (Deuteronomy 8:18)  Not everyone has been given the same gifts, but everyone has received the gifts, that they need to accomplish what they were created to do (1 Corinthians 7:7).  The Father of Truth created good works for each person to do (Ephesians 2:10).  The Father of Truth has given each person gifts, to help them do what He created them to do (James 1:17). 

No one has accomplished anything without the gifts, that they were given by the Father of Truth, and no one had any say, on what gifts that they were given.  If you were born smart, it is no credit to you.  If you were born strong, it is no credit to you.  If you were born beautiful, it is no credit to you.  If you were born talented, it is no credit to you. If you were born wealthy, it is no credit to you.  Like Solomon, you were given these things, even though you did not ask for them (1 Kings 3:13).  Your part is to unwrap the gifts, that the Father of Truth has given you, and to put them to use in the way, that He intended (Ecclesiastes 5:19).  If the Father of Truth has given you much, then He is also expecting you to do much ,with what you were given (Luke 12:48).

Although the Father of Truth has given everyone gifts, not everyone uses the gifts as He intended, nor even acknowledges, that everything that they have, came from Him. Some people say that everything that they have, they got by their own power alone, even though they had no say, in what gifts they were given, by the Father of Truth (Deuteronomy 8:17).   Some people will be like Solomon, and use their gifts to do evil, instead of good, as the Father of Truth intended (1 Kings 11:6).  Some people will not even bother, to find out what they have been given (Proverbs 21:25).  Some people will hide their gifts, instead of using them as the Father of Truth intended, because they are afraid of failure (Matthew 25:25).

The Father of Truth does not take back the gifts, that He gave in this life, when people do not use them as He intended, because the gifts belong to those, who He gave the them to (Romans 11:29).  However, the Father of Truth will hold everyone accountable, for how they use their gifts, for a day of reckoning is coming (Matthew 25:19).  Those who have done what is pleasing to the Father of Truth, with their gifts, will be rewarded in His presence (Matthew 25:20-23).  Those that hid their gifts, because they were afraid of failure, are lazy and wicked, so they will lose their gifts, when they are cast out from His presence (Matthew 25:24-30).  Those who have used their gifts for evil, will be rewarded according to their works as well (John 5:28-29).  Life is a test and you will be graded.

The Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) is the priceless gift of the Father of Truth (2 Corinthians 9:15).  This priceless gift was hung on a tree, to take away the curse, that comes from not using the gifts, that the Father of Truth gave us, as He intended (Galatians 3:13).  This priceless gift was given, so that anyone could become a Child of Truth, and live with the Father of Truth, in the House of Truth, forever (John 3:16).  This priceless gift is available to everyone, regardless of who they are, what they had done, or how they look (Romans 10:13).  All that is needed, is to come to the tree, and receive the priceless gift (Matthew 16:24).  Those that receive the priceless gift, are made worthy to receive an inheritance, from the Father of Truth (Colossians 1:12-14).

The Father of Truth also has special gifts in the House of Truth, that are only for the Children of Truth.   The Father of Truth has gifts, that He wants to give to anyone, who comes into the House of Truth, and asks Him for them (Matthew 7:11).

The Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) is available to anyone, who comes into the House of Truth, and asks the Father of Truth, for this gift (Luke 11:13).  When the gift of the Spirit of Truth is received ,then the Children of Truth will speak in a language, that they cannot speak on their own power (Acts 11:15-17).  When the gift of the Spirit of Truth is received, then the Spirit of Truth can pray through the Children of Truth, with groanings that do not sound like human speech, when the Children of Truth do not know how to pray, on their own (Romans 8:26-27).  When the gift of the Spirit of Truth is received, then the Children of Truth can speak in the language of angels, when they pray (1 Corinthians 13:1).  When the gift of the Spirit of Truth is received, then the Children of Truth can speak in a human language, that they do not know, when they pray (1 Corinthians 14:14-15).

The Father of Truth gives some of the Children of Truth, the ability to lay hands on other children of Truth, so they can receive the gift of the Spirit of Truth (Acts 8:14-17).  The ability to lay hands on other Children of Truth, so that they can receive the gift of the Spirit of Truth, is a gift that cannot be bought in stores (Acts 8:18-20).

Once the Children of Truth receive the gift of the Spirit of Truth, then the Spirit of Truth gives them even more gifts.  The Father of Truth does not want the Children of Truth, to be ignorant of these gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1).  These gifts are different from each other, are administered differently from each other, and work differently from each other, but they are all given by the Spirit of Truth, they are all administered by the Man of Truth, and they are all the work of the Father of Truth (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).  These gifts are given to the Children of Truth, to benefit others in the House of Truth (1 Corinthians 12:7).  Some of these gifts, let people know what to do, so they can make wise decisions, and tell people things, that they could not know on their own (1 Corinthians 12:8).  Some of these gifts give people, a faith that is way beyond the strength of their own faith, and the ability to bring healing, to those that are sick (1 Corinthians 12:9).  Some of these gifts, give people the ability to work miracles, to give messages from the Father of Truth, in their own language, to see angels and demons at work, as well as know what spirits are at work, even when they are not seen, to give messages from the Father of Truth, in a language that they do not understand, and to interpret the messages, in a language that they do not understand, that were given to others, by the Father of Truth (1 Corinthians 12:10).  The Spirit of Truth has selected several of these nine gifts, to give to each Child of Truth, to help them fulfill their purpose in the House of Truth (1 Corinthians 12:11).

There was no way to obtain these special gifts, without coming into the House of Truth, and the only way to come into the House of Truth, is to receive the priceless gift (Acts 2:38).  These special gifts are also gifts from the tree, because they can only be obtained, by first coming to the tree (Luke 14:27).

The Father of Truth is eagerly waiting in the House of Truth, to give out these gifts from the tree, to anyone that will come in.  The only way to come into the House of Truth, is to give control of your life to the Man of Truth, because you believe that the Father of Truth, raised him from the dead, after this priceless gift was hung on a tree (Romans 10:9).

Come into the House of Truth.

Festival of Lights

 Why are millions of Christians celebrating Chanukah?

When I was growing up I never even heard of Chanukah.  (Properly pronounced K'HA-nu-Kah but usually pronounced HAN-nuk-Kah in America).  Today Chanukah is everywhere.  There are Chanukah stamps in the post office.  There are Chanukah specials on TV by major entertainment companies like Nickelodeon, Disney and PBS.  There have been Chanukah movies like "Eight Crazy Nights".  There is Chanukah wrapping paper in many stores along with Chanukah gift cards.  Many stores like "Bed, Bath and Beyond" have a Chanukah section where you can buy Chanukah paraphernalia needed to celebrate Chanukah.  There is also Chanukah decorations that can be placed on a Chanukah bush, Chanukah cookie cutters for making Chanukah sugar cookies and I even saw Chanukah stockings this year.

More than that, millions of Christians have taken to celebrating Chanukah, usually along with Christmas.  A few years ago, most of the evangelical Christian homes in Colorado Springs, Colorado had a Chanukiah (a Chanukah candelabra) in their window during Chanukah to show solidarity with their Jewish neighbors.

You may have noticed this sudden appearance of Chanukah and you may have a few questions, particularly concerning Christians celebrating a new holiday that seems to have sprang up suddenly out of nowhere.

When is Chanukah?

Chanukah starts on the 25th day of the month of Kislev on the Jewish calendar.  It lasts for eight days and usually begins some time after Thanksgiving in the US (fourth Thursday of November) and usually ends by New Year's Day in the US (January 1).  The start date of Chanukah on the Gregorian calendar each year moves around like Easter for pretty much the same reasons.

What is Chanukah?

Chanukah is not a new holiday that was made in America like Kwanza.  Chanukah has been celebrated for about 2,200 years by Jews.  However Chanukah is not a Jewish Christmas as people sometimes think.  The confusion partially arises because Chanukah often overlaps Christmas and is also celebrated on the 25th day of a month.  Chanukah is a Jewish holiday that has no direct relation to Christmas other than its timing.

How is Chanukah celebrated?

There are many different traditions for celebrating Chanukah in various places around the world just as there are many different traditions for celebrating Christmas in various places around the world.  However, there are some things that are pretty much universal.  A Chanukiah (Chanukah Menorah) is placed in the window and a progressive number of candles are lit each night, starting with one candle on the first night and ending with eight candles on the last night.  Foods cooked in oil are eating pretty much every meal for all eight days, including special holiday foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts).  Games are played, but especially the Dreidel game where a driedel (a four sided top) is used to gamble for gelt (chocolate coins).  And of course, there are also Chanukah songs like Ma'oz Tzur and the Dreidel song.

However as Jews have always done in the Diaspora (scattering) they have been influenced by the surrounding culture as much they have influenced the surrounding culture.  In America, Chanukah has been competing with Christmas, just like how everything competes with everything else in America, and Jewish families did not want their children feeling left out when they heard their Gentile friends going on and on and on about how wonderful Christmas is.  So they starting giving presents on all eight days.  That is also why there are a whole slew of Christmas alternatives like Chanukah bushes decorated with Chanukah ornaments instead of Christmas trees decorated with Christmas ornaments, Chanukah cookies instead of Christmas cookies and Chanukah stockings to hang over the fire place.  No wonder people in America sometimes think that Chanukah is a Jewish Christmas.

What is Chanukah celebrating?

Chanukah is celebrating the dedication of the Temple after the Jews got it back from the Seleucid Greeks who ruled the eastern part of the Greek empire that stretched from Syria to northern India.   The short version of the story is this:

Antiochus Epiphanes wanted everyone in his empire to do everything the Greek way, including worshiping Greek idols.  While everyone but the Jews were already idol worshipers this was only a matter of renaming their current idols so for them it was no big deal.  However, the Jews would have nothing to do with worshiping idols of any kind.  So Antiochus Epiphanes removed the rightful high priest and placed corrupt men in the office of high priest in his place.  He then ordered these illegitimate high priests to end the daily sacrifice commanded in the Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law) and they complied.  Then he set up a giant image of himself in the Temple and commanded that everyone worship it.  When the believing Jews refused, he outlawed many of the practices that the Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) had commanded in the Law of Truth including observing the Sabbath, reading the Original Covenant (Tanach aka Old Testament) and wearing Tzitzits (cords on the corner of their garments that contained a blue thread).  The believing Jews responded by staying faithful to the Father of Truth, but often in secret when they could, but still many died for refusing to work on the Sabbath.  They hid their reading of the Original Covenant by quickly hiding their scrolls and taking out dreidels to gamble for coins whenever the Greek soldiers checked up on them.  They made smaller garments with tzitzits that were like handkerchiefs and girdles that they wore hidden under their Greek clothes.  After a while, a believing priest named Matthias refused to worship the idol that the Greeks had set up in Modi'im where he lived.  An unbelieving Jew stepped forward to worship the idol and Matthias killed him.  Next Matthias, his five sons and the other believing Jews fought off the Greeks there then headed for the hills.  They were the Maccabees. They were joined by other believing Jews who also decided that resistance was essential and that they would not be assimilated.  They waged a war against the mightiest empire on Earth and pushed the Syrian Greeks out of their land but many of them died in so doing.  When the Temple was recaptured, they had to clean it up before they could use it.  In particular, they had to get rid of the altar and replace it with a new one because Antiochus Epiphanes had sacrificed three pigs and a dog on it to an idol.  The clean up took eight days and then once again the Menorah of the Temple was lit.  The people of Israel could now worship the Father of Truth in peace.

This story is found in the books of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees along with some incidents that happened during this same period in other books of the Apocrypha (a collection of historical books (worth reading) and Jewish fables (avoid reading (Titus 1:14 )).  It is worth noting that there is no eight day miracle of the oil in these historical books as well as other ancient texts about the events like those found among the Dead Sea scrolls. The story that there was only enough oil for the Temple Menorah to last for one day but it lasted for eight does not appear until about five hundred years after the fact in the Talmud.   That is kind of like me writing a history of the voyage of Columbus and adding that there was a fourth ship that flew.  The "miracle of the oil" story was probably added to compete with the story of the miraculous birth of the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ).  It is a shame, because it takes attention away from the great miracle of Father of Truth delivering His people against all odds and the dedication that His people had for Him.  The real point of the story that resistance is not futile and we do not have to be assimilated if we will be dedicated to the Father of Truth even to the point of dying if necessary.

Is Chanukah in the Book of Truth (The Bible)?

The entire story of the Chanukah that is in 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees was foretold in the book of Daniel (Daniel 11:21-34).  Antiochus Epiphanes was a vile person that became king through treachery when his brother Demetris was the rightful heir to the throne causing him to be held in contempt by the nobles of the Empire (Daniel 11:21).  He replaced the legitimate High Priest (the prince of the covenant), Onias with Jason and then deceitfully replaced Jason with Menelaus when he offered Antiochus more money than Jason (Daniel 11:22-23).  After returning from a successful military expedition in Egypt, he became angry against the covenant given by the Father of Truth because it was in direct opposition to his command for everyone to assimilate to the Greek way of life (Daniel 11:28).  After the Romans prevented him from completely taking over Egypt, he plotted with the unbelieving Jews that were for abandoning the covenant given by the Father of Truth, who helped him to take away the daily sacrifice and to pollute the Holy Temple with his idol to make it desolate of believing Jews that remained loyal to the Father of Truth (Daniel 11:30-32a).  The believing Jews rallied around the Maccabees who did exploits like those of David with the help of the Father of Truth to regain the Temple, Jerusalem and Israel (Daniel 11:32b-33a).  However it was only after many of them were martyred (Daniel 11:33b).  They did receive some help from a few believing Gentiles but many more Gentiles pretended to be their friends after they had won (Daniel 11:34).

What does Chanukah have to do with Christians?

Foremost, the Man of Truth validated Chanukah by celebrating Chanukah (John 10:22).  Those Children of Truth (those who obey The Father of Truth because they love Him), who were born the first time as Gentiles, became true Jews when they were born again (Romans 2:28-29).  When those Children of Truth, who were born the first time as Gentiles, were born again, they were grafted into the family tree of Israel (Romans 11:24-25).  When those Children of Truth, who were born the first time as Gentiles, they were aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, but when they were born again, they were brought into the commonwealth of Israel by the blood of the Man of Truth (Ephesians 2:11-13).   It is legitimate for the Children of Truth to celebrate Chanukah with the Man of Truth.

"Chanukah" literally means "Dedication".

It was during Chanukah that the Man of Truth said that the Children of Truth will follow only him because of their dedication to him (John 10:3-5).  It was during Chanukah that the Man of Truth declared that he would lay down his life because of his dedication to the Children of Truth (John 10:10-13). It was during Chanukah that the Man of Truth declared that he would lay down his life to save the Gentiles who would follow him as well as the Jews who would follow him because he was dedicated to ending the separation between the believing Jews and the believing Gentiles (John 10:14-16).  It was during Chanukah that the Man of Truth declared he would obey the commandment of the Father of Truth to die and come back to life because he was dedicated to the Father of Truth (John 10:17-18).

The Children of Truth must also show their dedication to the Man of Truth even to the point of laying down their lives (Matthew 10:22).  Many have so done by becoming martyrs for the Man of Truth just like so many died as martyrs for the Father of Truth in resisting Antiochus Epiphanes.  Stephen (Acts 7:58-60), James the brother of John (Acts 12:1-2), Shual (aka Paul) (2 Timothy 4:6-7), Cephas (aka Peter) (2 Peter 1:13-15) and Antipas (Revelation 2:13) were all dedicated to the Man of Truth to point of dying.  Every Child of Truth must be dedicated enough to suffer for the Man of Truth before they can reign with the Man of Truth (2 Timothy 2:12).  Every Child of Truth will suffer some type of persecution because of their dedication to the Man of Truth and the Father of Truth (2 Timothy 3:12).

The Children of Truth must not accept the premise of the world that resistance is futile and that they will be assimilated.

The Children of Truth must resist the pressures of the world to disobey the Father of Truth because they are dedicated to obeying the Father of Truth just like the Man of Truth, even to the point of having their blood shed (Hebrews 12:3-4).  The Children of Truth must resist the Father of Lies (HaShatan aka Satan Aka The Devil) by being dedicated to obeying the Father of Truth and he will flee just as the Maccabees resisted Antiochus Epiphanes and he fled. (James 4:7).

The Children of Truth will not be assimilated into this world because they do not belong to this world just as the Maccabees did not belong to the Greek world (John 15:18-20).  The Children of Truth must not submit to being assimilated into this world even at the cost of their lives just as the Maccabees refused to be assimilated into the Greek world even at the cost of their lives (Romans 12:1-2).  The Children of Truth do not love this world and the ways of this world due to their dedication to the Father of Truth just as the Maccabees did not love the Greek world and its ways due to their dedication to the Father of Truth (1 John 2:15-17).

Chanukah is also called the Festival of Lights. 

It was during Chanukah when the Man of Truth delivered the woman caught in adultery from the penalty of her sin and then declared that he was the Light of the world (John 8:10-12).  It was during Chanukah when the Man of Truth opened the eyes of the man born blind and then declared again that he was the Light of the world (John 9:4-6).  It was during Chanukah when the Man of Truth opened the eyes of the man born blind to bring light into his world (John 10:21-22).

On the Chanukiah there are eight candles that are lit one after another but there is an extra candle that is separate and lifted up higher than all the other candles called the shamash (servant).  The shamash is used to light the other candles.  The other candles only have light because the shamash gave them light but each one that is lit makes the world brighter.  The Man of Truth is like the shamash and the Children of Truth are like the other candles.

The Man of Truth came as a servant (Mark 10:45).  The Man of Truth came as a servant so the Children of Truth would know how to serve each other instead of lording it over each other (Luke 22:25-27).  The Children of Truth must serve one another (Galatians 5:13).

The Man of Truth calls the Children of Truth "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).  The light that the Man of Truth gives causes the Children of Truth to give out light as well (Luke 16:8)  The Children of Truth have no light without him (John 1:9).  The Man of Truth causes the Children of Truth to no longer be without light (John 12:46).

The Light of Chanukah burns brightly in the House of Truth for it reminds the Children of Truth that they must be dedicated to not being assimilated into the world but to rather bring the light given by the Man of Truth to the world.  You come into the House of Truth when you dedicate your life to the Man of Truth because you believe that His Father called him out of the darkness of the grave (Romans 10:8-10).

Come into the House of Truth.

Stay in the House!

What must the Children of Truth do to be saved?

"Stay in the House!".  I can still hear those words today that my granny shouted long ago.

Not long after I moved to rural Arkansas from Saint Louis, a rather large skunk appeared between my granny's house and the granary.  I was seven years old and had never before encountered a wild animal that was not in a zoo.  I thought that I could pet it like a cat or one of the farm animals.  As I made my way to the back door my granny shouted words that caused me to freeze in my tracks: "Stay in the House!".

After the skunk wandered off, my granny explained that the skunk would have sprayed me with an awful smelling substance.  I would have been forced to take a bath in tomato juice to get rid of most of the smell.  Even worse, it could have been carrying rabies and bit me which would have lead to a trip to the hospital for a series of painful treatments.  I could have even died if I had left the house.  When my granny was telling me to stay in the house it was not to ruin my fun but to protect my life.  I had to stay in the house to be saved.

It is just like Noah and the Ark.  Noah had to obey the Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) and go into the Ark, the floating house, to be saved (Genesis 7:1).  Everyone that was not in the Ark died (Genesis 7:23).  Noah had to stay in the Ark until the Father of Truth said it was safe to leave (Genesis 8:15-16).  Noah had to stay in the floating house to be saved.

In a similar way, when Rehab the Harlot made a covenant to protect the life of those she loved they had to stay in the house to be saved (Joshua 2:18-19).

Also The Father of Truth had set up cities of refuge, houses of safety, for those that had slain another without malice (Numbers 35:22-25).  However one had to stay in the house of safety to be saved (Numbers 35:26-28).

Now consider Abner who was safe only as long as he stayed in the house.  Hebron was a city of refuge (Joshua 21:13).  Abner had been forced to slay Asahel, the brother of Joab, in self defense (2 Samuel 2:21-23).  Abner was slain in the gate of Hebron by Joab, within the shadow of safety, because he had left the house of safety to get a drink of water (2 Samuel 3:26-27).  David said that Abner died the death of a fool because he had not stayed in the house of safety (2 Samuel 3:33-34).

It is no different with us.  We must stay in the House of Truth to be saved.

We must stay in the House of Truth to be under the protective shadow of the Father of Truth (Psalm 91:1-2).  If we leave the House of Truth then we will still die (Ezekiel 18:24-26).  If we leave the House of Truth then all of our former obedience to the Father of Truth will be forgotten for it is what we do from now on that matters (Ezekiel 33:12-13).  We must stay in the House of Truth to be saved (Ezekiel 33:18).  It is better to have never came into the House of Truth by knowing the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) than to have came into the House of Truth and then left it (2 Peter 2:20-22).

Stay in the house!

We must stay in the House of Truth to be blessed by the Father of Truth just like the nation of Israel was blessed when they stayed in the House of Truth (Deuteronomy 28:1-2).  We will be cursed by the Father of Truth if we leave the House of Truth just like the nation of Israel was cursed when they left the House of Truth (Deuteronomy 28:15).  We must stay in the House of Truth with the Father of Truth forever to be saved just as the nation of Israel had to stay in the House of Truth with the Father of Truth throughout their generations to be saved (Psalm 90:1).  If we do not stay in the House of Truth then we will be cut off from salvation like the nation of Israel was cut off when it did not stay in the House of Truth (Romans 11:20-22).

Stay in the house!

We must be careful to not be seduced by the Father of Lies (HaShatan aka Satan aka The Devil) into leaving the House of Truth (1 Timothy 4:1).  We must not be enticed by money into leaving the House of Truth (1 Timothy 6:8-10).  We must not be fooled by the worthless theories of junk science into leaving the House of Truth (1 Timothy 6:20-21).  We may find pleasure outside of the House of Truth for a season but that pleasure will not last (Hebrews 11:25).  The pleasure that we find outside of the House of Truth will eventually kill us (James 1:15-16).  The Father of Truth is not telling us to stay in the House of Truth to ruin our fun but to protect our lives.

Stay in the house!

We stay in the House of Truth by living in the Man of Truth so that he will live in us (John 15:4-6).  We stay in the House of Truth by keeping the commandments of the Man of Truth (John 15:9-11).  We stay in the House of Truth by standing strong (1 Corinthians 16:13).  We stay in the House of Truth by examining ourselves to be sure that we are still in the House of Truth (2 Corinthians 13:5).  We stay in the House of Truth by allowing the Word of Truth to live in us, by encouraging others to stay in the House of Truth and by doing everything that we do in the name of the Man of Truth (Colossians 3:16-17).  We stay in the House of Truth by putting into practice what is written in the Book of Truth (The Bible) (2 Timothy 3:14-17).  We stay in the House of Truth by staying in the fight until the day we die (2 Timothy 4:6-8).  We stay in the House of Truth by holding onto the promise of eternal life with a death grip through the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) that lives in us (1 John 2:25-28)

Stay in the house!

Perhaps you cannot stay in the House of Truth because you have yet to come into the House of Truth.   You must come into the House of Truth and stay there because pursuing evil will bring you death (Proverbs 11:19).  The Father of Truth wants you to come into the House of Truth and stay there so that you will not die (Ezekiel 18:21-23).  If you will come into the House of Truth and stay there then you will live (Ezekiel 18:27-28).  It is what you do from now on that matters (Ezekiel 33:12).  If you will come into the House of Truth and stay there then your former disobedience will be forgotten (Ezekiel 33:14-16).  You must come into the House of Truth and stay there to be saved. (Ezekiel 33:19).  You first come into the House of Truth by telling others that the Man of Truth is your absolute boss in everything because you believe that the Father of Truth raised the Man of Truth from the dead (Romans 10:9).

Perhaps you were once in the House of Truth but left.  You can still be saved if you will come back into the House of Truth and stay there forever just as the entire nation of Israel will be saved down to the very last person when it comes back into the House of Truth to stay there forever (Romans 11:23-26).

Come into the House of Truth.

It Is Time For Some Tough Love

How far should the Children of Truth (those who obey The Father of Truth because they love Him) go to keep each other from sin?

Am I my brother's keeper?  People have been asking this every since Cain was confronted by The Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) for killing Abel (Genesis 4:9).  What does it mean to keep your brother?  The Hebrew word translated as "keeper" literally means "one that guards from harm".  So does the Father of Truth expect each and every Child of Truth to guard each Child of Truth that they know from harm?

We are to love the Father of Truth will all our spirit, soul and body (Deuteronomy 6:5). We are to love those in the House of Truth as we love ourselves. (Leviticus 19:18)  All that is written in the Book of Truth (The Bible) is to help us carryout these two commandments (Matthew 22:37-40).  It is our love for one another that shows that we are the Children of Truth (John 13:35).  If we love the Father of Truth then we must love each and every Child of Truth (1 John 4:21).

So the Father of Truth expects us to guard each other from harm.  We must warn every Child of Truth that we see sinning to avoid sinning against the Father of Truth ourselves (2 Chronicles 19:10).  We must warn them to keep their blood from being on our hands (Ezekiel 3:21).

How are the Children of Truth to keep guard over their fellow Children of Truth?  How far are we to go in guarding our brother (or sister) from harm?

The Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) uses some tough love to bring those that leave the House of Truth back into the House of Truth and he commands us to do the same.

The Man of Truth commands the Children of Truth to confront their fellow Child of Truth one on one whenever their fellow Child of Truth has sinned against them and to warn them of the danger that they are in (Matthew 18:15).   What if they refuse to hear the warning and continue in their sin?

It is time for some tough love.  The Man of Truth commands the Children of Truth to take one or two more and then again confront their fellow Child of Truth and warn them of the danger that they are in (Matthew 18:16).  What if they still refuse to hear the warning and continue in their sin?

It is time for some tough love. The Man of Truth commands the Children of Truth to confront their fellow Child of Truth in front of the entire congregation and warn them of the danger that they are in (Matthew 18:17).

What if despite all of this the Child of Truth continues in the sin?

It is time for some tough love. The Man of Truth says that the Children of Truth are to then to treat them as if they are no longer a Child of Truth because they have left the House of Truth (Matthew 18:17).  What are we to do so they know they are still in danger?

We have an example of how to put this tough love into action (1 Corinthians 5:1-2).  We are to not intercede to the Father of Truth to protect them from the Father of Lies (HaShatan aka Satan aka The Devil) from physical harm so that they will come back into the House of Truth and be saved from eternal death (1 Corinthians 5:3-5).  We are to not spend time with them even to the point of refusing to eat at the same table with them (1 Corinthians 5:11-13).  We are to treat them this way because we love them and we want them to come back into the House of Truth (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).  We are not to offer them any help as long as they remain outside of the House of Truth even to the point of refusing to say to them "God Bless You" (2 John 1:9-11).

What if they finally repent after all of this?  We are to forgive them and once again show that we love them as part of the family (2 Corinthians 2:6-8).   If we will show the Child of Truth that leaves the House of Truth some tough love so that they come back into the House of Truth then we will have saved them from death and we are to never mention their sin again (James 5:19-20).

What if they want to come back to us without repenting of their sin?

It is time for some tough love. The Man of Truth says that we must confront the Child of Truth that leaves the House of Truth because we demonstrate what is allowed and forbidden in Heaven by what we allow and forbid on Earth (Matthew 18:18).  You might think that marking them as unacceptable and avoiding them when they persist in sin is too harsh but this is to prevent them from will leading other people out of the House of Truth (Romans 16:17-18).  You might think that handing them over to the Father of Lies is too extreme but this must be done to prevent their disobedience to the Father of Truth from spreading throughout the entire congregation (1 Corinthians 5:6). You might think that the public humiliation of confronting them in front of the entire congregation is too tough but this must be done to protect others in the congregation from going into the same sin (1 Timothy 5:20).  We must not allow them to poison the entire congregation by refusing to confront them or the Man of Truth will not be pleased with us despite our other good works (Revelation 2:19-20).

What if we are not strong enough and wise enough to apply this tough love to the Child of Truth that leaves the House of Truth?

The Father of Truth will give us the strength and wisdom that we need to in bring the wandering Child of Truth back into the House of Truth if we ask him (Matthew 18:19).  The Man of Truth will be with us to give us the strength to in bring the wandering Child of Truth back into the House of Truth if we gather together in his name to intercede for the wandering Child of Truth (Matthew 18:20).  We can be tough enough to love them because the Man of Truth is tough enough and he lives in us if we will live in the House of Truth (John 15:4-7).  We can have a love that is strong enough if we will spend time with the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) (Galatians 5:22).

What if you do not apply this tough love to the Child of Truth that leaves the House of Truth?

It is time for some tough love. If you do not confront the Child of Truth that leaves the House of Truth then you hate them in your heart (Leviticus 19:17).  If you do not confront the Child of Truth that leaves the House of Truth then you are still in darkness (1 John 2:9).  If you do not confront the Child of Truth that leaves the House of Truth then you are a murderer and the life of the Man of Truth is not in you (1 John 3:15).  If you do not confront the Child of Truth that leaves the House of Truth then you are a liar and you do not love the Father of Truth (1 John 4:20).

You might think that hate is too strong of a word to use for your avoiding a confrontation, but it is not.  If you do not speak up against what they are doing then your silence is consent to their sin (Numbers 30:14).  If you do not warn them then the Father of Truth will require their blood from your hand (Ezekiel 3:20).  If you stand to the side to avoid getting involved instead of doing all that you can to rescue them from destruction then you are the same as one that sought their destruction (Obadiah 1:11).  If they do not repent on their own, then the Man of Truth will be forced to destroy them to protect the congregation, to cast those who they deceived into great tribulation to bring them to repentance, and even kill their family to put fear in the churches but he will hold you responsible (Revelation 2:21-23).

It is time for some tough love. They first came into the House of Truth when they called the Man of Truth their absolute ruler and believed that the Father of Truth raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9).  You must have a love for them that is tough enough to cause them as much sorrow as it takes so that they repent and come back into the House of Truth (2 Corinthians 7:9).  They cannot be saved if they do not repent to the point of returning to the House of Truth and never doing that thing again (2 Corinthians 7:10).  You must be willing to be an instrument of the chastisement for the Father of Truth to use when they leave the House of Truth so that they might live  (Hebrews 12:7-9).

Come into the House of Truth.