MEM

We read a lot about Moses, even outside of the Torah (first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures). Now we seldom mention much about Joshua; many children’s Bible stories tell about Joshua and the walls of Jericho but that is about the extent of their knowledge concerning him. Joshua played a very important role in the history of Israel. So what did YHVH (The LORD) say to Joshua? And can we apply what was said to our lives?

Again and again we read the importance of obedience to the Law of God - Some prefer to substitute Torah for the word "Law" because it better describes the intent of the word as teaching or instruction.

"Clear your mind of can’t." Samuel Johnson

Sometimes the simplest of statements are profound. We often look at God’s instruction as a negative when we should see it as an opportunity to grow in His grace and knowledge.

"Nothing but the presence of God can reveal and expel self. …the presence of Jesus banishes every desire to seek anything in ourselves. It will make us delight in every humiliation that prepares us for His fuller manifestation." Andrew Murray

How does God feel about issues we face today?

Do you love God? Do you love to do His will and obey His commandments? What believer would say no to the first question? Yet would you expect less enthusiastic responses to the second question? Many people, even among those who affirm the faith, have a vague notion of love as a positive feeling. Yet it would be wrong to draw a distinction between the first two questions given above, for one implies the other. God’s will is inherent in His being and inseparable from it. So His word tells you that by this you know that you love Him, when you keep His commandments. He who loves God will also love those He loves, including his brother. (Adopted from a blog post by Dale Cresap)

Where Does the Carbon Dioxide Really Come From? 
Professor Ian Plimer (edited; see web for more info)

Okay, here's the bombshell. The volcanic eruption in Iceland. Since its first spewing of volcanic ash has, in just FOUR DAYS, NEGATED EVERY SINGLE EFFORT you have made in the past five years to control CO2 emissions on our planet - all of you.

Of course, you know about this evil carbon dioxide that we are trying to suppress - it's that vital chemical compound that every plant requires to live and grow and to synthesize into oxygen for us humans and all animal life. I know it's very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience and expense of driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags, sitting up till midnight to finish your kids "The Green Revolution" science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies, using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, vacationing at home instead of abroad. Nearly getting hit every day on your bicycle, replacing all of your 50 cent light bulbs with $10.00 light bulbs.

Well, all of those things you have done have gone down the tubes in just four days. The volcanic ash emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in just four days - yes, FOUR DAYS - by that volcano in Iceland has totally erased every single effort you have made to reduce the evil beast, CARBON. And there are around 200 active volcanoes on the planet spewing out this crud at any one time - EVERY DAY.

I don't really want to rain on your parade too much, but I should mention that when the volcano Mt Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it spewed out more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the entire human race had emitted in all its years on earth. Yes, folks, Mt Pinatubo was active for over One year - think about it.

Of course, I shouldn't spoil this 'touchy-feely tree-hugging' moment and mention the effect of solar and cosmic activity and the well-recognized 800-year global heating and cooling cycle, which keeps happening despite our completely insignificant efforts to affect climate change. And I do wish I had a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud, but the fact of the matter is that the brush fire season across the western USA and Australia this year alone will negate your efforts to reduce carbon in our world for the next two to three years. And it happens every year.

Hey, isn't it interesting how they don't mention 'Global Warming' anymore, but just 'Climate Change'- you know why?

It's because the planet has COOLED by 0.7 degrees in the past century … And [they] won't stop any volcanoes from erupting, that's for sure.

But, hey, relax and have a nice day anyway.

The Truth John 14:6

The Faithful and True Rev 19:11

A Covenant of the People Isaiah 42:6

The Testator or Covenantor Heb 9:16,17

The Faithful Witness Rev 1:5

The Faithful and True Witness Rev 3:14

A Witness to the People Isa 55:4

The Amen Rev 3:14

The Just 1 Pet 3:18

The Just One Acts 7:52

Thine Holy One Acts 2:27

The Holy One, and the Just Acts 3:14

The Holy One of Israel Isa 49:7

The Holy One of God Mark 1:24

Holy, Holy, Holy Isa 6:3

John 12:41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

The Beginning of the Creation of God Rev 3:14

My Firstborn Ps 89:27

The Firstborn from the Dead Col 1:18

The First Begotten of the Dead Rev 1:5

The Firstborn Among Many Brethren Rom 8:29

The Firstfruits of Them That Slept 1 Cor 15:20

The Last Adam 1 Cor 15:45

The Resurrection John 11:25

A Quickening Spirit 1 Cor 15:45

The Head (Even Christ) Eph 4:15

The Head of the Body, the Church Col 1:18

The Head Over All Things to the Church Eph 1:22

The Head of Every Man 1 Cor 11:3

The Head of All Principality and Power Col 2:10

18 - 20 of 24 (1-6 in MEM 138 more in subsequent issues)

The world is not yet perfect

"I have two wonderful children". Audience applauds…

Slight pause…

"Then there is another one…"

1. You think the stock market has a fence around it.
2. Your boat has not left the drive-way in 15 years.
3. You own a homemade fur coat.
4. Chiggers are included on your list of top 5 hygiene concerns.
5. You burn your yard rather than mow it.

To those who subscribe to extra biblical teachings on the topic of holiness, whether or not it can be attained, or whether or not we ought to pursue it, the entire thing can be a real head scratcher. Because men would rather believe the words of other men than the Word of God, there are entire passages of Scripture individuals conveniently avoid, or refuse to read because to do so would mean to be confronted with the reality that what they believe is contrary to what the Bible says.

I have no great expectations of the world. Those in darkness will live as those in darkness, but I do have some expectation of those calling themselves redeemed and sanctified, and one of the expectations I have is that they be diligent when it comes to the Word of God and God’s expectations of them as His bondservants.

We can’t play it fast and loose when it comes to the Word of God, because there are eternal consequences and ramifications to deal with. We cannot embrace a certain doctrine or teaching just because it pleases the flesh, because there will be a day of reckoning for every lie we embrace as truth, and every truth we rejected as a lie.

The church today has a real problem with holiness. Mention it and you’re quickly branded an extremist, someone to be avoided and rejected at all cost, because to insist upon holiness is to turn our back on progress and the new libertine gospel we’ve all come to love and embrace.

Would God be so petty as to tell us to pursue something He knew we could never acquire? Would God be so small as to make us seek after something we had no hope of ever attaining? Did He just include certain passages in Scripture because He likes to watch us fail, and chase our tails endlessly?

How can you hope to have God’s favor, how can you hope to rest fully in the grace of Christ, if you did not do what you were instructed to do by the Word of God in the first place?

How can we possibly be expected not to conform ourselves to our former lust when preachers today don’t have the wherewithal to call even the most vile of practices sin anymore?

Be holy? So can holiness be like a part time job? Can we be holy half the time, and then do what the flesh wants the rest of the time? Can we be holy only when we’re around other Christians, or when we’re in church but then let our hair down when no one’s around?

With love in Christ

Michael Boldea Jr.

In this section of Scripture, which includes the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai, we read how the people were warned not to get too close to God lest they perish. Not following God's directive would result in death. Stepping out of bounds regarding God is perilous. Understanding the balance of not being afraid with the need to fear God includes gaining a real grasp on the magnitude of God's power.
 
This is in contrast to how God is often depicted today. Somehow the master of the universe and judge of the whole world has become the sugar daddy of the religion of extreme tolerance. To say "God loves you" has come to mean that God accepts you regardless of your behavior - a very different thing from the one who commanded strict lifestyle standards through Moses.
 
There are people who claim to believe the Bible, who say that God has changed since Mt. Sinai. Those were his angry days, but not now. Under the New Covenant they say, he has calmed down. Now he is a kinder, gentler, an accepting god. Strange though that Yeshua said some things that sound very similar to what Moses said:
 

"Don't fear, but fear" - just like Moses. The fact is that God is very scary. He is the greatest power in the universe. Yet we tend to treat him so lightly. That we can call God, "Father" should overwhelm us. The Creator of the Universe is not to be trifled with. Rather, as he demonstrated through Moses, he is to be obeyed, and obeyed on his terms alone.
 
The real difference between the Old and New Covenants is that God has provided the way to be fully restored to right relationship with him. Through faith in the Messiah's sacrifice we are made fit to draw near to this awesome God. We should not be afraid to approach him, but never on our terms. Just like at Sinai, God still requires that we approach him on his terms alone. To neglect that is to put ourselves at risk of eternal consequences. As both the Old and New Covenant writings attest, "our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29; ESV, compare Deuteronomy 4:24).

The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.

What a wonderful Creator. All He ask of us is to love Him and obey His commandments and to treat others as we would treat ourselves. Then we can rest assured of His promise to be with us.