SiDeNoTe: I am reading a book called 7 Biblical Truths You won't hear in church -see sidebar- on page 62 it reads:
God uses the law and any other means HE deems necessary to cause us to turn to HIM.  HE didn't give us the ten commandments because HE thought we could keep them; HE gave us the ten commandments because we thought we could keep them.  God wants us to surrender to HIM-and HE uses the law as a means to make that happen.

The part about us thinking we could keep the law pertains to what I am learning in this Heart Ablaze study...remember they told Moses you hear from God and tell us what he says and we will do it.  Now that to me is a sense of humor....someone doesn't want to meet with me and hear my words straight from my mouth, instead they want only one or two people to meet with me and they will do whatever I say...ok let's have some fun with this...LOL...and of course a way to help us see how much we need HIM and should meet with HIM.

This author goes on to say rules produce rebellion and the ten commandments are no exception. 
The more confined and bound we are to rules, the more we look for ways to break free.  It's clear God gave us the law to drive us to our knees--to the point of surrender. It's like HE wanted us to just throw up our hands and say uncle.    God wants us to see our own inability to measure up and finally reach the point of surrender.  HE gave us HIS law to judge us and to entice us to sin at the same time.  Through this HE reveals our hopeless humanness.  (do you agree?)

<------ End SiDeNoTe----->

Manageable Deity was the title of this section.

Information does not change rather transformation is what we need.

Topics:
Aaron went back to the camp.
the idol calf
idolatry in the church today

II Corinthians 6:14-17
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

4 Promises:
Will dwell, walk in, will be, and they shall be.
Conditional upon verse 17...so the converse is also true, don't do verse 17 and don't get the 4 promises.

II Corinthians 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

this did not originate with Paul, God had been saying it for years that HE desired to dwell and walk among us in HIS Glory and that is futuristic also because HE Will.

Exodus 19 - remember Egypt is a type of world, Moses a type of Christ, out of Egypt like being saved, pharaoh a type of satan, and Moses leading the way like salvation.

Review Exodus 19:10-11
10And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,  11And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

they had 2 things to do, sanctify and wash clothes

we do as well

Preach the Gospel and cleanse/prepare for HIS Glory

God supplies the ability and we do it. (or this is what this guy said, remember this is his words not mine sounds a bit like the ben franklin God helps those who help themselves to me)

Exodus 19:4 - Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

He stressed the whole reason they were saved from Egypt and us saved from the world was the last 4 words of that sentence.

Exodus 19:7-8 
 7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.  8And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

They liked the miracles and thought it would be great to be in HIS presence and so said they were ready but screamed and ran away when HE appeared.

in an atmosphere of miracles sin can hide...but Lord didn't we do this in your name.....It was not a lack of love but a lack of fear, not scared of but rather scared to be away from HIM.  And this proper fear will have us running from sin, give us a passion to do HIS Will...the fear of God compels you to obey.

So they got to play church at the foot of the mountain.  Moses got to go up and meet with God.  God had to choose men to reveal HIMSELF to and they were to take back HIS words. 

Exodus 19:24 - And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.

Moses goes for 40 days but Aaron goes back to camp.

Exodus 32:1-4
1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.  2And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.  3And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.  4And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Moses is delayed so they gathered.  When no move of God, the "religious" gather to do something.  Tempted to move and do when God is still.  Aaron had the gift of leadership (see Romans 12) on his life and that gift draws people to it, whether that person has been to the mountain or not, which is why a pastor can have a 5,000+ member church and not have personally met God on the mountain...or past leaders that people thought were good but did evil in the end...they had the gift of leadership...think 1940's for a clue.   IS the leader speaking God's Will or his own desire?  - ouch

They also tried to disqualify Moses.  A prophet is a spokesperson. Remember God told Moses he would be like a god to Aaron and Aaron would be his prophet.  So God speaks to Moses and Moses speaks to Aaron and Aaron speaks to Egyptians and Hebrews.  Some today want to disqualify Truth speakers so they can have church the way they want. - again ouch

the word ELOHIYM (verse one gods that's lower case) appears in OT approximately 2500 times and 2250 of those times it is referring to God Almighty.  Roughly 250 times it is translated as a false god and so need to keep reading in context to know who they are referring to.

Yatsar means to fashion or mold with a tool  as in verse 4

Exodus 32:7 - And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:

Notice HE now says they're Moses people...LOL

corrupted = to decay...play church at foot of mountain, be decayed, distanced from HIS heart= deteriorate

Exodus 32:21-24
21And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?  22And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.  23For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.  24And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

Aaron formed it -remember?  The preacher on this DVD said when he read that he threw is Bible onto the bed and told the FATHER that was a bold faced lie, how did he get away with that?

The preacher said the Lord revealed to him that Aaron did not behold HIM for 40 days as did Moses so his image of ME was one formed by the society he was raised in and that's what came out of him.  God had compassion on his misguidance

John 3:3 & 5
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Aaron and Moses saw it but only Moses entered in.

Romans 1:20-23
20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

the preacher said our society would laugh if we made a statue out of gold like an insect or something...they'd tell us to sell the gold and use the money.  Our society worships self- a corruptable man- and so has changed the Glory for an image of corruptable man.  We've served a Jesus in our image we have made.  we say HE  died for me, raised to life for me...but do we say HE's at the right hand of the FATHER or just treat HIM like a giving tree?

idols give their creator whatever they want and an idol satisfies ones inborn need to worship.

Isaiah 44:10 - Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?

Exodus 32:5-6
5And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.  6And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

and Lord there (verse 5) is YHWH the proper name of the one true God.

Exodus 32:25 - And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)  he said this signified confirmation of what they had done.??

I Samuel 15:23a - For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry...

Egyptians ask their idols for things they know would anger their Creator.  Do they know THE CREATOR?  why yes they do please read...

Romans 1:18-19
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;  19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

So they think since I created it I can call it a name and it will give me what I want that I know is against God and I can worship it.

The Israelites had already been touched by God's Power so they made an image to give them their desires (they copied what they had seen done in Egypt)

Today people create an image of Jesus to bless them and keep them happy but think it's ok to break HIS laws. - ouch

II Corinthians 11:3-4
3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Isaiah 29:13 - Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Then he told some stories to prove a point:

A wife who had an unbelieving spouse attended a church where a guy was into her and her friends told her to divorce her husband and get with this "believer" who "reallly" luvved her.  She told this to the preacher on the DVD and he replied," Which Jesus is your friends serving?  Only ok to divorce for unfaithfulness and if for any other reason, you are to remain single after the divorce (yes, I know another good viewpoint on this...but I am just putting notes here)....this lady decided to divorce her husband and marry the other guy anyway.

Then he told another story about a pastors wife who share with them her marriage story.  Her DH had been an associate pastor of a large church in the early years of their marriage but he was also into guys- IYKWIM- and he was caught by the police when he tried to solicit "a good time" from an undercover cop.  This wife said she went to prayer and the Lord told her she could leave him and HE would bless her but if she stayed married to him HE would bless her double because HE knew it would be tough.  She said she decided to go for the double blessing because she knew that is what God really wanted even though HE had said HE would bless her either way.  Now they own a 12,000 square foot home with a vinyard of all kinds of fruits for a backyard and her husband is still a pastor. He said her face just radiates.

He ended those stories with a question.  "Which Jesus is which lady serving?" - ouch

Either a believer will conform to Jesus by fear of the Lord or will conform Jesus into what image they want.

Go to the mountain to be changed.

Stay at the foot to play church and make up your own image of the Lord.

Just being forgiven doesn't change - still need to take care of disobedience - or something like that, I can't read my scribbles.

After the DVD.

Pastor brought up the Wedding Feast parable.  He said we are always told to just do this to get to heaven and no one says come to meet God.  The one who was thrown out wasn't known nor invited....we need to have that personal relationship.  Then he said a thief in the night comes quietely so I made a note to find verse...

Revelations 16:15 - Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

but I thought: 1 Corinthians 15:52 - In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 Will this be a trumpet only Believers will hear? 

Do you have a real relationship with HIM?

Are you ready?

***update as of 4-13-07***

So I just emailed a social worker and she said it is rare that a social worker speaks to a child alone unless they are a teenager who has shown they don't really want to share their home with another person.  She also said she would never force a shy child to speak to her alone and she doesn't understand why a homeschool organization is telling parents not to let them into the home nor to speak to the children....

She wants our address and phone number to get the process started...should I give it out?  Will she show up on my doorstep and try to prove me an unfit parent because I homeschool - and since it is only Year 0 (kindergarten) I am not forcing my son to memorize a ton of stuff ...we do basic phonics and lots of read a louds and if he shows interest maybe some writing of letters or numbers but again only if he shows interest. We mostly play to learn or play outside.

Scared....paranoid?  maybe both.

***update****

Based on a recommendation at homeschoolblogger  to try a christian agency...I contacted Bethany and they only do infant adoptions and for people with a child already we could expect a 3+ year wait and can't even get on a waiting list for another few months as the program is not taking any more applicants at this time.  They are not able to help in the adoption of a child cleared thru the state for adoption.

SO I contacted a home I saw in a city nearby and she has invited us to an info meeting and classes to be licenses to foster/adopt start July 10th. 

The only concern now with the christian ones is - both spouses attend different churches...<grin>  I explained I need spiritual meat but hubby is still a milk fed person.  She liked that answer.

So now it's go with the christian one and wait to get thru the process or the state one and get the process started right away.

state - http://www.foster-adopt.org/default.asp?action=article&ID=64

christian - http://www.mbch.org/Services/ServicesAdoption.asp

DH will be home in a few hours...will let you know what he says.

In my state, we are not required to keep homeschool records until the age of 7 which is the compulsory age to prove schooling if requested politely.  so at this age of 5, it's not even required my son be doing any schooling at all. - phew-

oh and DH said as long as he passes his upcoming railroad test and finds out whether or not he gets laid off or get s job right way -as that determines if we even stay in this state- he is ok with adopting a child already cleared by the court in the state.  -YAY!!

We drove about an hour away to an observatory.  As a 5th grader I remember going to a planetarium.  We have not yet read the book on stars planned for this year but we will soon and I can say remember being out in that dark field and seeing all those stars?  to refresh his memory.

Here are some pictures of the man-made, from scrap-metal materials telescope.

Oh and did I mention it got down to freezing or below that night?

Sidetrack: Oh and DS had a lovely boo boo as well that he got last Monday while riding his tri-cycle.  He was staying with my dad while I went to class and my dad had taken him to the furches parking lot that is close by his apartment.  I am not sure how it happened since I was not there but it sure looked bad.  And oh the stares and questions all week.  This photo was taken about 24 hours after the actual event.

Back to the observatory:  There was a step-ladder to climb to see the eye piece and one of the guys held DS up so he could see, and even I had to stand on a milk crate to be tall enough on top of the top step on the ladder.  Saturn is the planet we viewed.  It looked to me like taking black construction paper and cutting out the tiny shape and then holding light behind it.   The only picture I could find depicts the size of what I saw but doesn't show the light effect.

We also went out in the field to look thru 3 other telescopes - smaller versions- We could see the big dipper and Venus and Orion's belt - no telescope needed.

The best I can describe is Venus and the belt were in the western hemisphere of the night sky and the big dipper was upside down and to the east.  Venus was low in the sky and rather a yellow light...while the Orion's belt (3 stars look like a waistline) from where we were standing was up and to the left of venus and looked more like white light and so did the dipper which was diagonally across going east from Orion's.

Maybe you can go outside tonight and see them.

I also saw some books someone brought that looked intrigueing. 

Gospel in the Stars   and The Heavens Declare

We also viewed a powerpoint presentation on the size comparison of planets in our galaxie and stars in one other known one and that someone with years of viewing a certain spot in the sky figured out there was galaxie upon galaxie, like looking thru a mirror when there is another one behind you type effect.  The presentation  also showed that Jupiter revolves on it's axis in 10 hours and so it's years aren't as long as ours...but planets closer take several days to rotate once on their axis and there years are shorter/longer than ours depending on how fast they rotate on their axis and in their orbit. 

The guy presenting was talking in terms of millions of years - did someone not tell him we homeschool?  He said something about mars having had an atmosphere like our planet but the sun or something caused it's atmosphere to be blown/melted away yet ours was not disturbed and they speculate because ours hadn't developed yet. One of the moms piped in that it could have been because we had that protective water vapor before the flood.  And it was such a smiling moment when several of the kids would challenge the things the guy said in regards to "big bang, millions of years, and etc"

DS received a 3D space viewer thing yesterday from some of DH's family.  He was all excited to show me the things we saw on Saturday in the presentation.

April 5th, 2007

Why did they run from HIS Glory?
Scared of vs. Fear of
Why doesn't God talk to us?

Exodus 20:18-21
18And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.  19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.  20And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.  21And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

At some point he mentioned something about Titus having destroyed some records in 70A.D. and then he reiterated that Christ ascended to heaven in 28 or 29A.D., speaking again on his on the 3rd day point.

He also said the furch in the 80's and 90's committed idolatry by only teaching about the luuvvv of God and not the Fear of God or who HE is.

II Corinthians 6:16-17
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Yes reach out to them but don't be of them.  Jesus ate with all manner of persons to reach them but HE did not do as they do.

II Corinthians 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Psalm 105:37 - He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

Justification - when born again
Sanctification - worked from the inside out

Luke 12:2-5
 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.  3Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.  4And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Sin may be undetected in an atmosphere of miracles....but sin can not hide in the presence of HIS Glory!

40 years after Exodus 20 Moses is reviewing:
Deuteronomy 5:23-27
 23And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;  24And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.  25Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.  26For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.

Deuteronomy 5:28-29
28And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.  29O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! (God wanted them to have proper fear of Him not scaredy cat fear as in the above verses)

Deuteronomy 5:30-31
30Go say to them, Get you into your tents again. (just go and play church is what he called it, too funny!)

 31But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. (many people just expect to have God talk to the pastor and then the pastor talk to them)

John 3:20 - For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (he said an isolated believer is treading on thin ice but then went onto say people expect to only hear from God via a pastor and not themselves....so I would counter then that not all furch goers are there for the right reason.)

Philippians 2:12b - work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

He said the Fear of the Lord keeps us from sin, not the love of God.

Scared (fear) means to run from God

Fear of God means nothing to hide and more scared to be away from God.

He said he went to talk to a famouse 80's tv evangelist that ended up in jail and that guy said he viewed his time in jail as mercy and not punishment because it is what got him back on that narrow road and away from the path that would lead to eternal seperation from God.

Fear the Supreme Authority in Life

he said analogy wise we go through a door of salvation and there is a narrow road that has a ditch on either side.  The ditch of legalism  and the ditch of lawlessness.  But that the true Fear of the Lord would keep us out of the ditches.

Ok so what does it mean? 

Fear of God = to venerate HIM (reverence, respect, honor above all)

When you fear God you will:
1. Obey instantly
2. Obey even when it does not make sense
3. Obey even when it hurts.
4. Obey even when you don't see a benefit.
5. Obey to completion.

Psalm 24:3-4
3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?  4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. (He said this comes as a direct result of the Fear of the Lord)

Psalm 25:14 - The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

He also said just praying the "sinner's prayer" does not equal arrival - I got a kick out of that.

He said Moses knew God's plan before hand and was able to change God's mind 2 times.  ( I was thinking back on my Genesis reading and Abraham did the same, he asked if only 10 righteous were found would you spare the city and God said He would, but there was not even 10 to be found, so therefore God's plan still had to be carried out, but how cool that Abraham was so close to God that HE was willing to consider his plea.)

This made me realize even more that without HIM I am spiritually dead and lost but Glory Hallelujah to Y'shua!!!

Matthew 10:28 - Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

I know you are to be content in any situation, but we have been renters the past 7 years. 

May 2000 thru January 2002 - paid $200 to stay at MIL's - her idea since she hoped DH and I would attend college full time and not have to work full time.  But we had a child and trying to raise your child around people who are done with babies and/or not interested in having them for a few more years (DH's sisters who were still in highschool)....they have no regard for "shhh the baby is sleeping" and in the middle of the night when I had to keep my son from crying so as to not disturb anyone else's sleep...not fun...

January 2002 thru May 2003 - we rented a house from my mom.  My cousin lived in the basement while attending college full time and we lived upstairs.  It worked great until my mom decided to sell the house and we had 3 days to get out.  so we....

May 2003 thru October 2005 - rented at the apartments that MIL moved into after getting a D from her 2nd husband.  It was a 2 bedroom apartment that had major plumbing leaks.  SO lots of mold everywhere- even the cat was sneezing.  We lived there over 2.5 years before they decided we either had to pay more rent or re-sign another year's lease... -money grubbing landlords!-

November 2005 thru today - renting another 2 bedroom unit and this one has washer/dryer in it.  No mold problems so that is good but I have been "ripped a new one" over parking issues, not to mention that time there was a snake in here, so now she sprays chemicals - which I don't even buy at the store in the form of cleaners/hygiene products- but Dec. of '05 I asked her when we could move out and not be penalized and she said after 10/31/06 we would be on a month to month basis and free to leave. 

 Well I gave her the rent check on 3/31/07 for April's rent and come home 04/04/07 to a 2 page letter on the door that says she is upping our rent- not the rent portion - but since she only set aside $55 a month of our $650 rent that includes utilities  as our gas and electric portion (hello, $55 dollars, is this 1960?) so she says on average our family uses $99 a month in gas/electric - for us that's good the other place ran us $150-200 a month for both of those- so she said instead of raising the price the whole $44 she would just raise it $25....and to sign the one year lease renewal agreement on the next page and in return get a $30 gift certificate to store of choice or a carpet shampoo - which we do ourselves 1 to 2 times a year anyway-

I was mad...she said we would be month to month and when we first looked at the place and went over contract terms before signing NEVER mentioned a yearly renewal....ugh...I mean at some point we would like to buy a house and don't want to be locked into when we can buy based on someone else's terms...

oh and she typed - I am late getting out my renewal agreements.  My bad.  -in the letter.  Exactly, my bad is a term jr high kids use not in a professional notice.

Also since we have lived here, 2 ishtar's in a row have been invited to churches for ishtar...hello stereotype much just cuz I live in an apartment does not mean I am a nonnie.  Plus what is up with knocking on my door at 10am on a saturday...I have only been out of the shower a while and in my bathrobe....so of course I didn't open up the door and just start chatting away. 

Genesis 25:21 - And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Genesis 29:31 - And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. (so hated wives give birth to many children...wives who are loved have few if any?)

Genesis 30:2 - And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

Genesis 30:37-43 : interesting breeding techniques

Genesis 31:14 - And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?  (thought daughters became part of the DH's family and so that was all they got?)

Genesis 31:50-53 -  50If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.  51And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee:  52This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.  53The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.  (remember Laban and Rebekah were Syrians...so here we have a Syrian pledging to let YHWH be judge and also promising not to harm each other...interesting)

Genesis 27:2 - And he (Isaac) said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

Genesis 35:28 - And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. (Jacob missed 20 or so years of his dads life)

Genesis 33:17 - And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. (this happened before the Exodus)

Genesis 34:25 - And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. (found this interesting because a lot of places talk about something good happening on the 3rd day, for the people taking revenge it felt right but for the revengees- it was bad)

Genesis 35:22 - And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

Genesis 37:21-22 -  21And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.  22And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. (Reuben slept with one of his dads concubines and now is trying to be a "hero" by plotting to appear to save his brother)

Genesis 37:26-27 - 26And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?  27Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.  (and Y'shua came from this line)

Genesis 37:29 - And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.  (so he was not in on the plot to sell Joseph)

Genesis 37:35 - And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.  (such a surprise is in store for him in 20 years) (yet another son who misses out on 20 years of their dad's life)

Genesis 38:29 - And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.  (was the second born....the line Y'shua would come by...I see a pattern with 2nd borns.)

Genesis 41:14 - Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. (he got cleaned up to see Pharaoh)

Genesis 41:32 - And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.  (people always say it was confirmed in triplicate....here it was confirmed of God in double)

Genesis 41:45 - And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.  (so earlier in the line we can trace those to become Hebrew married to those of Syrian descent and now we see them also married to those of Egyptian descent...)

Genesis 41:51-52 -51And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.  52And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

Genesis 48:5 - And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

Genesis 48:18-19 - 18And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.  19And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. (again the second born greater than the first)

Genesis 42 and 43 - Reuben and Judah willing to bear shame if don't bring back Benjamin - still feeling guilty over the things they had either talked the others into doing (Judah) or committed against their father (Reuben)?

Genesis 43:32 - And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.  (Except for Joseph's wife who was of Egyptian descent, obviously she ate with her family)

Genesis 46:13 - And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.  (same Job of the book of Job? since it is said it is the oldest book in the Bible, guess it's possible?)

Genesis 46:34 - That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. (even the Great Shepherd?)

Genesis 13:14-18 - The Land

Genesis 49:8-12 - 8Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.  9Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?  10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.  11Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:  12His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

Genesis 49:25 - Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

Genesis 49:31 - There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.  (buried with Leah not Rachel)

Genesis 50:18 - And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.  (Joseph's dream came true)

Genesis 50:23 - And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.  (nice long life)

04/03/2007 - I found this section needed it's own entry.

The Reading of the Bible.––A word about the reading of the Bible. I think we make a mistake in burying the text under our endless comments and applications. Also, I doubt if the picking out of individual verses, and grinding these into the child until they cease to have any meaning for him, is anything but a hindrance to the spiritual life. The Word is full of vital force, capable of applying itself. A seed, light as thistledown, wafted into the child's soul will take root downwards and bear fruit upwards. What is required of us is, that we should implant a love of the Word; that the most delightful moments of the child's day should be those in which his mother reads for him, with sweet sympathy and holy gladness in voice and eyes, the beautiful stories of the Bible; and now and then in the reading will occur one of those convictions, passing from the soul of the mother to the soul of the child, in which is the life of the Spirit. Let the child grow, so that,

     "New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven,"

are a joy to him, too; things to be counted first amongst the blessings of a day. Above all, do not read the Bible at the child: do not let any words of the Scriptures be occasions for gibbeting his faults. (ooooh) It is the office of the Holy Ghost to convince of sin; and He is able to use the Word for this purpose, without risk of that hardening of the heart in which our clumsy dealings too often result.

The matter for this teaching of divine things will come out of every mother's own convictions. I will attempt to speak of only one or two of those vital truths on which the spiritual life must sustain itself.

Father and Giver.––"Our Father, who is in heaven," is perhaps the first idea of God which the mother will present to her child––Father and Giver, straight from whom comes all the gladness of every day. 'What a happy birthday our Father has given to my little boy!' 'The flowers are coming again; our Father has taken care of the life of the plants all through the winter cold!' 'Listen to the skylark! It is a wonder how our Father can put so much joy into the heart of one little bird.' 'Thank God for making my little girl so happy and merry!' Out of this thought comes prayer, the free utterance of the child's heart, more often in thanks for the little joys of the day counted up than in desire, just yet. The words do not matter; any simple form the child can understand will do; the rising Godward of the child-heart is the true prayer. Out of this thought , too, comes duty––the glad acknowledgement of the debt of service and obedience to a Parent so gracious and benign––not One who exacts service at the sword's point, as it were, but One whom His children run to obey.

The Essence of Christianity is Loyalty to a Person.––Christ, our King. Here is a thought to unseal the fountains of love and loyalty, the treasures of faith and imagination, bound up in the child. The very essence of Christianity is personal loyalty, passionate loyalty to our adorable Chief. We have laid other foundations––regeneration, sacraments, justification, works, faith, the Bible––any one of which, however necessary to salvation in its due place and proportion may become a religion about Christ and without Christ. And now a time of sifting has come upon us, and thoughtful people decline to know anything about our religious systems; they write down all our orthodox beliefs as things not knowable. Perhaps this may be because, in thinking much of our salvation, we have put out of sight our King, the divine fact which no soul of man to whom it is presented can ignore. In the idea of Christ is life; let the thought of Him once get touch of the soul, and it rises up, a living power, independent of all formularies of the brain. Let us save Christianity for our children by bringing them into allegiance to Christ, the King. How? How did the old Cavaliers bring up sons and daughters, in passionate loyalty and reverence for not too worthy princes? Their own hearts were full of it; their lips spake it; their acts proclaimed it; the style of their clothes, the ring of their voices, the carriage of their heads––all was one proclamation of boundless devotion to their king and his cause. That civil war, whatever else it did, or missed doing, left a parable for Christian people. If a Stuart prince could command such measure of loyalty, what shall we say of "the Chief amongst ten thousand, the altogether lovely"?

Jesus, our Saviour. Here is a thought to be brought tenderly before the child in the moments of misery that follow wrong-doing. 'My poor little boy, you have been very naughty to-day! Could you not help it?' 'No, mother,' with sobs. 'No, I suppose not; but there is a way of help.' And then the mother tells her child how the Lord Jesus is our Saviour, because He saves us from our sins. It is a matter of question when the child should first learn the 'Story of the Cross.' One thinks it would be very delightful to begin with Moses and the prophets: to go through the Old Testament history, tracing the gradual unfolding of the work and character of the Messiah; and then, when their minds are full of the expectation of the Jews, to bring before them the mystery of the Birth in Bethlehem, the humiliation of the Cross. But perhaps no gain in freshness of presentation would make up to the children for not having grown up with the associations of Calvary and Bethlehem always present to their minds. One thing in this connection: it is not well to allow the children in a careless familiarity with the Name of Jesus, or in the use of hymns whose tone is not reverent. "Ye call Me Master and Lord; and ye say well, for so I am."

The Indwelling of Christ is a thought particularly fit for the children, because their large faith does not stumble at the mystery, their imagination leaps readily to the marvel, that the King Himself should inhabit a little child's heart. 'How am I to know He is come, mother?' 'When you are quite gentle, sweet, and happy, it is because Christ is within,––

     "And when He comes, He makes your face so fair,
     Your friends are glad, and say, 'The King is there."

I will not attempt to indicate any more of the vital truths which the Christian mother will present to her child; having patience until they blossom and bear, and his soul is as a very fruitful garden which the Lord hath blessed. But, once more, "This kind cometh forth only by prayer."

Then I went back to the front to re-read some of the book intro info and I wanted to quote this here:

p2
........ it is necessary to believe in God; that, therefore, the knowledge of God is the principal knowledge, and the chief end of education.

04/03/2007

p340
Do not give children deterrent examples of error, because of the sad proclivities of human nature, but always tell them of beautiful 'Golden Deeds,' small and great, that shall stir them as trumpet-calls to the battle of life.

p341
"The very Pulse of the Machine."––It is evident we have not yet reached

          "The very pulse of the machine."

Habits, feeling, reason, conscience––we have followed these into the inmost recesses of the child's life; each acts upon the other, but what acts upon the last: what acts upon them all? "It is," says a writer who has searched into the deep things of God––"it is a King that our spirits cry for, to guide them, discipline them, unite them to each other; to give them a victory over themselves, a victory over the world. It is a Priest that our spirits cry out for, to lift them above themselves to their God and Father,––to make them partakers of his nature, fellow-workers in one authentic testimony that He is both the Priest and King of Men." [Maurice, Sermons on Sacrifice.]  [Possibly The Doctrine of Sacrifice by John Frederick Denison Maurice,  (1805–1872),  whom Charles Kingsley called 'the most beautiful human soul whom God has ever allowed me to meet with.']

p342
She quotes Augustine, " The direct action of the soul is all Godward, with a reflex action towards men. The speech of the soul is prayer and praise, the right hand of the soul is faith, the light of the soul is love, the love of God shed abroad upon it. Observe, these are the functions, this, the life of the soul, the only functions, the only life it can have: if it have not these, it has no power to turn aside and find the "life of its hand" elsewhere."

p343
What is the Life of the Soul?––......The truth is too ineffable to be uttered in any words but those given to us. But it means this, at least, that the living soul does not abide alone in its place; that place becomes the temple of the living God.

p343
The Parent must present the idea of God to the Soul of the Child.––.........

p345
The parent must not make blundering, witless efforts: as this is the highest duty imposed upon him, it is also the most delicate; and he will have infinite need of faith and prayer, tact and discretion, humility, gentleness, love, and sound judgement, if he would present his child to God, and the thought of God to the soul of his child.

God presented to Children as an Exactor and a Punisher.––"If we think of God as an exactor and not a giver," it has been well said, "exactors and not givers shall we become." Yet is not this the light in which God is most commonly set before the children––a Pharoah demanding his tale of bricks, bricks of good behaviour and right-doing? Do not parents deliberately present God as an exactor, to back up the feebleness of their own government; and do they not freely utter, on the part of God, threats they would be unwilling to utter on their own part? Again, what child has not heard from his nurse this, delivered with much energy, 'God does not love you, you naughty boy! He will send you to the bad place!' And these two thoughts of God, as an exactor and a punisher, make up, often enough, all the idea the poor child gets of his Father in heaven. What fruit can come of this but aversion, the turning away of the child from the face of his Father? What if, instead, were given to him the thought well expressed in the words, "The all-forgiving gentleness of God" ?

p346

Parents must select Inspiring Ideas.––These are but two of many deterrent thoughts of God commonly presented to the tender soul; and the mother, who realises that the heart of her child may be irrevocabley turned against God by the ideas of Him imbibed in the nursery, will feel the necessity for grave and careful thought, and definite resolve, as to what teaching her child shall receive on this momentous subject. She will most likely forbid any mention of the Divine Name to the children, except by their parents, explaining at the same time that she does so because she cares so much that her children should get none but right thoughts on this great matter. It is better that children should receive a few vital ideas that their souls may grow than a great deal of indefinite teaching.  (nursery? so not her children?  like some kind of governess she is speaking to here?....so I thought, exactly what the public school teachers should be taught here....to acknowledge there is a Sovereign but rather tell the students to direct questions invloving - especially meatier subjects- asks their parents so as not to try and confuse the child and so the child grows learning what the parents believe- of course that would only work in the right society where we all agreed and believed on the TRUE Sovereign.)

In the first place, we must teach that which we know, know by the life of the soul, not with any mere knowledge of the mind. Now, of the vast mass of the doctrines and the precepts of religion, we shall find that there are only a few vital truths that we have so taken into our being that we live upon them––this person, these; that person, those; some of us, not more than a single one. One or more, these are the truths we must teach the children, because these will come straight out of our hearts with the enthusiasm of conviction which rarely fails to carry its own idea into the spiritual life of another. There is no more fruitful source of what it is hardly too much to call infant infidelity than the unreal dead words which are poured upon children about the best things, with an artificial solemnity of tone and manner intended to make up for the want of living meaning in the words. Let the parent who only knows one thing from above teach his child that one; more will come to him by the time the child is ready for more.

p347

Fitting and Vital Ideas.––Again, there are some ideas of the spiritual life more proper than others to the life and needs of the child. Thus, Christ the Joy-giver is more to him than Christ the Consoler.

And there are some few ideas which are as the daily bread of the soul, without which life and growth are impossible. All other teaching may be deferred until the child's needs bring him to it; but whoever sends his child out into life without these vital ideas of the spiritual life, sends him forth with a dormant soul, however well-instructed he may be in theology.

p348
The Times and the Manner of Religious Instruction.––The next considerations that will press upon the mother are of the times, and the manner,of this teaching in the things of God. It is better that these teachings be rare and precious, than too frequent and slighty valued; better not at all, than that the child should be surfeited with the mere sight of spiritual food, rudely served. At the same time, he must be built up in the faith, and his lessons must be regular and progressive; and here everything depends upon the tact of the mother. .......  Every now and then there occurs a holy moment, felt to be holy by mother and child, when the two are together––that is the moment for some deeply felt and softly spoken word about God, such as the occasion gives rise to. .....This is all: no routine of spiritual teaching; a dread of many words, which are apt to smother the fire of the sacred life; much self-restraint shown in the allowing of seeming opportunities to pass; and all the time, earnest purpose of heart, and a definite scheme for the building up of the child in the faith. It need not be added that, to make another use of our Lord's words, "this kind cometh forth only by prayer." It is as the mother gets wisdom liberally from above, that she will be enabled for this divine task.

If Laban is a Syrian then also Rebekah?  Which makes them all Syrian but how/when did they become Syrian?  Was it Haran's wife?  Bethuel's wife?  Isn't Syria + iran = Assyria?  Talk about a mixture.

I found this http://www.hope.edu/bandstra/RTOT/CH2/TREE.JPG  but it didn't answer all my questions.

So I opened Excel and went to work. 

Clear as mud?

Well I gotta jet...my kitten who must officially be in heat (just one day before her surgery is scheduled wouldn't ya know)....is driving me insane clawing at doors and windows.

Poor thing...she is just too young still to even know why such an urge..

**** UPDATE**** today (4/2/07) I took my kitten to the vet.  She is about 6 months old and a Lynx Point Siamese...and was not in heat....interesting....she is currently sleeping in front of the patio screen door.  5:22pm

Just my reading today (3/30/07)

I sometimes wish I wouldn't think so deeply when reading the Bible because I have so many notes or things that stand out to look into...ok here goes.

Genesis 16:12-13 - 12And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. 13And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? (so was Ishmael and/or his mom considered righteous because they were of Abraham's household?  Kinda like they knew the truth but somewhere veered off/came up with there own version....like many churches today...and many cultures have their version of the Flood....ooooh)

Genesis 17:20 - And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.  (wasn't there something about a 12th something in there sphere? and oh yeah so they had 12 greats like there are 12 tribes of Israel....)

 [Afterthought:        Well I woke up at 7:30am 3-31-07 to 2 cats begging for food and after tending to them so they would leave me alone, I opened my Bible and read

Genesis 25:13-16 - 13And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,  14And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,  15Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:  16These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

I also read that Abraham had more children than just those two...interesting, we seem to forget that and that those children were given gifts and sent on their way, they didn't get blessings. - end Afterthought}

Wife/Sister

Genesis20:5-6 - 5Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.  6And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.  ( Intriguing.  The Lord knew Abraham had told this king that Sarah was only his sister and since he didn't know otherwise he thought he was in the right to take her but the Lord kept him from sinning.)

Genesis 20:12 - And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.  (Genesis 11 tells us that Abram took Sarai to be his wife and Nahor his brother took Milcah, the daughter of their brother Haran who died - so his niece essentially-and Haran also had a child named Iscah and a son named Lot whom Abram later looked after until the possessions between the two of them were so large they needed seperate space. And here we see Abraham saying Sarah is his half-sister)

Still blessed even though tried to take matters into her own hand

Remember Sarai said take my maidservant and have an heir with her since I can't bare children.  She thought she was doing the right thing but it backfired and the maidservant despised her.  So Sarai apologized to Abram and told him to judge but he said she could do with her maidservant as she wished. So Sarai dealt with her harshly.  Even so....

Genesis 17:15-16 - 15And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.  16And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

Genesis 21:8 -And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. (celebration...)

his son/was heard

Genesis 21:9-13 - 9And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.  10Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.  11And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.  12And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.  13And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

Genesis 21:16-18 - 16And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.  17And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.  18Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

Timing....

So Rebekah was the daughter of the 8th son born to Nahor, Abraham's brother.  So if Isaac had been born earlier in his parents' marriage, then he would have been way to old to have Rebekah as his wife and may have ended up with someone else.  ....just something to ponder.

Genesis 22:20-23 - 20And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;  21Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,  22And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.  23And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.