ISSUE: #32

MEM

Message

It is extremely difficult to see our nation going through terrible times. And now with the result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we have added reason to question what is going on.

Jeremiah 15:7 "I will winnow them with a winnowing fork At the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy My people; They did not repent of their ways.

There may be those who think this is only a natural disaster, being consumed by pointing their finger at others instead of examining there own lives and motives. There may be some who think God brought this disaster on them because of their sin. Others may see the hand of God in this and change their ways.

Jeremiah 26:3 ‘Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the calamity which I am planning to do to them because of the evil of their deeds.’

Regardless, we need to realize how loving and merciful our Creator is. Paul says in 1Corinthians 11: 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

Let us examine our lives before it is too late. Yeshua (Jesus) warns us in Luke 13:1-5 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

May we take warning - repent of our evil ways and the evil of our land - cry out for YHVH’s mercy - His healing for us, our nation, and the world.

Take warning: Psalms 7:12 If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready.

Proverb

Proverbs 1:2-5 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel…

Saying

Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle. Abraham Lincoln

Well done is better than well said. Ben Franklin

Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them.

Bible Quiz

1. Complete Philippians 2:11 - "and every tongue confess that…"
2. The Gospel of Mark is thought to have been written for what people?
3. In which body of water were Simon and Andrew fishing when Yeshua called them?
4. What were Barnabas and Paul called in Lystra?
5. Name two of the six groups of people whose land Israel was to receive.
6. During the time of Elisha, who was the commander of the Aram army?
7. Who said, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you"?

Humility

In our repentance before YHVH we must see ourselves as born with a nature that is opposed to God (Romans 3:9-18). We need to humble ourselves and seek the fullness of Yeshua in our lives, for Him to fill us - to take the place of our own selfish nature.

Did you know:

Alaska

More than half of the coastline of the entire United States is in Alaska.

Amazon

* The Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% of the world's oxygen supply.

* The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic Ocean that, more than one hundred miles at sea, off the mouth of the river, one can dip fresh water out of the ocean.

* The volume of water in the Amazon river is greater than the next eight largest rivers in the world combined and three times the flow of all rivers in the United States.

Lighter Side

A doctor, a lawyer, a little boy and a preacher were out for a
Sunday afternoon flight on a small private plane. Suddenly,
the plane developed engine trouble. In spite of the best
efforts of the pilot, the plane started to go down. Finally,
the pilot grabbed a parachute, yelled to the passengers that
they had better jump, and then he bailed out.

Unfortunately, there were only three parachutes remaining.
The doctor grabbed one and said "I'm a doctor, I save lives,
so I must live," and jumped out.

The lawyer then said, "I'm a lawyer and lawyers are the
smartest people in the world. I deserve to live." He also
grabbed a parachute and jumped.

The preacher looked at the little boy and said, "My son, I've
lived a long and full life. You are young and have your
whole life ahead of you. Take the last parachute and live in
peace."

The little boy handed the parachute back to the preacher and
said, "Not to worry, Preacher. The 'smartest man in the world'
just took off with my back pack."

Children’s Story

Pierre was approaching the Hatah village well before noon. He could see village people busy constructing a shelter of palm branches over a skeleton of poles made from trees. Others were carrying stretcher like mats with survivors from what he assumed was the ill fated ship.

Some of the women were boiling pots of water over their stone fire places. They were adding leaves and roots gathered from the forest. The men carrying the white men on the stretchers were arranging them under the shelter. Some of the stronger survivors were being assisted by village men on each side to the shelter. Several children were following carrying items from the ship.

Pierre noted the men from the ship were getting good treatment from the villagers. Many had Hatah style dressing on their wounds; they were being fed nourishing herb soups. Pierre went around introducing himself to most of the men, telling them they were in good hands. Finding out they were headed for Mirada, he informed them no large ships stopped at this island. Missionary Bill was a possible source of contacting those from Mirada. The men were assured that if Missionary Bill did not come to the island by Sabbath, Pierre’s father would be back and he could have a ship come by to pick them up.

In this way they would have a way of contacting the Island of Mirada to bring a ship for their return to "civilization".

Pierre kept watching for Mea and Rimin as he visited with the ship’s passengers. He saw them dragging a large section of the ship’s sail from the beach to the compound. Running up to them he grabbed a corner of the sail to help. Mea (a young Hatah girl probably 11 or 12) and her brother Rimin (about 13), were excitedly trying to communicate to Pierre as they tugged on the sail fragment. Pierre could not make sense of what they were saying as he had only learned a few of their words, and they only knew a few words of English. Heading for the shelter Pierre tried to slow them down and ask a simple question - "Are all white men safe?" Puzzled, Mea and Rimin thought for a bit without missing a step. Finally Mea said "Ah, Yes!"

Depositing the sail fragment near one of the shelter upright poles, they turned and motioned for Pierre to follow them to the ocean beach. Together they ran back to the ocean and followed the shore line for about a mile. Rounding a bend Pierre saw the ship on its side, grounded on a reef about a quarter mile out in the ocean. There were still some of the village men and women using their dug-out canoes, without riggers, ferrying goods and salvageable items from the stranded ship. High on the shore above the tide line were piles of items from the stricken ship.

Mea and Rimin wanted Pierre to go with them out to the ship. Finding a dug-out with two out-riggers they pushed off from shore and headed toward the ship. The ship was being slowly demolished by the pounding surf as the waves broke upon the reef. The younger children from the village were having a fun time climbing all over the ship, casting what they could into the calmer waters on the island side of the reef; these were to be gathered later. Pierre’s two Hatah friends tied the canoe to an exposed rib of the ship and scurried inside a large hole in the ship’s side, waving for Pierre to follow. Looking up at the damaged ship Pierre saw the carved words "Fair Seas" just below the figure head of a leaping dolphin.

As they investigated the ship, Pierre was careful to look for any survivors or useful items for salvage. It was evident that the Hatah’s had been thorough in removing everything that was loose. Climbing around the ship was difficult as it was on it’s side. Being convinced there were no remaining survivors Pierre pulled himself up to the captain’s deck and found a telescope. Taking his knife from his belt, using it as a screwdriver, he unscrewed the compass from its mount. Next he found the captain’s quarters and located the captain’s log with some other maps and documents.

Care was taken to load these into the dug-out. Along with some items gathered by Mea and Rimin they headed back to shore. They found a section of a ladder floating in the calm water near the shore. Pierre cut a section from some sail material and wrapped it around the ladder section making it a carrying tool. Small pockets were formed between the rungs, so they loaded the compass, hand tools, the log book, and other items onto the carrier. Pierre inserted the telescope into his belt then let Rimin take the lead while he carried the back part of their treasure carrier. Mea gathered up fragments of brightly colored cloth and followed them back to the village.

As Pierre carried the back half of the ladder laden with goods he tried to make sense of the whole ordeal. A portion of Psalms 107 came to his mind: "Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters; They have seen the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep. For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, Which lifted up the waves of the sea. They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; Their soul melted away in their misery. They reeled and staggered like a drunken man, And were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet, So He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving kindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, And praise Him at the seat of the elders." As Pierre walked along he began to sing and praise YHVH for His loving kindness, for sparing the lives of these passengers.

Quiz Answers

1. "Jesus Christ is Lord."
2. Gentile readers.
3. Sea of Galilee (Mark 1:16)
4. Zeus and Hermes (Acts 14:8-12)
5. Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (Exodus 3:8)
6. Naaman (2Kings 5:1)
7. Mary (Luke 2:48)