Hello,

Why should I continue being a Christian if God has given me a rubbish adulthood?

I am single and try hard to find someone, I live in one room and I have no mortgage to get a house or a flat, I have no savings, I don't have a car, God can't seem to heal my mental illnesses, no children, I always struggle for money and I don't know if Christians need to keep the Law of Moses or not.

I show my love to God but I get nothing back in return. What a cruel God! Where are his blessings? His love is an absolute joke.

PARASHA: “B’Midbar” (in the wilderness) NUMBERS 1:1-4:20


We start the new Torah Sefer called “Numbers” in English because it talks about “numbering” the tribes of Israel. We wonder why the reason for “numbering the people?” for this reason, we need to go back to the beginning to see.

In Egypt, Israel was a hodge-podge of undisciplined slaves working for Pharaoh, In Adonai’s timing, He sent Moshe, a “Messiah Type” to lead the people out of slavery to freedom. Once out of Egypt, came the task of taking Egypt out of the Israelites. They came to Har Sinai, ready to become a nation united under YHVH. The Ten Commandments served as the document in stone, a “Ketubah” to solidify the covenant. Now, the United Tribes of Israel under YHVH is established. But this is only the first part. Each Shavuot/Pentecost, we remember the giving of the “Torah in Stone” in the midst of thunder and fire.

Now that the nation is established, YHVH takes a count, why the count? As a nation, Israel needs an army! So, the count is taken to form the very first IDF (Israel Defense Force). I am sure that many of you who are reading this have served in one of the branches of the Armed Forces of the USA, or other countries. I myself served in the US Army from 1972-1984. I met many people and learned many things. It was a great experience and a special time in my life. Quite a few of my family members also served in the Armed Forces, the first being an ancestor of mine, Richard Ellis, who served in the Massachusetts Militia in 1640. I also served as a volunteer chaplain with the Armed Forces of El Salvador, where I now live. Also with the IDF as a volunteer helper during the summer of 2015.

YHVH takes up the count and “enlists” every man who is 20 years old and older. They will serve in the armies of Israel. All those who are …”20 years old and upward who are able to go to war.” After the numbering, part of daily life would have been practicing and learning how to use different combat weapons, back then would have been swords, spears, bows and arrows, and slingshots.

The term that is used is "lifting up the head" as far as "counting" went. The Midrash says that "Lifting up the head" could mean "prosperity and blessings" if the person was obedient, yet, the same term was used by Joseph when he predicted the outcome of the baker, "In three days, your head will be lifted off from you" (loss of life)

Every soldier has a job to do. Today we call these jobs MOS, (Military Occupation Specialties) One of mine was that of chaplain assistant. I was to assist a catholic chaplain who everyone called; “Father McCarthy” who had a bulldog named “Gus” who also went to chapel with him. 11 of the 12 tribes were called to be fighting men yet the tribe of Levi, was called to be the “chaplain tribe” They were exempt from combat duty, they would attend the Tabernacle and services. There were the cohenim (the priests) who would be the “chaplains” and the “Levites” who would serve as the “chaplain assistants” sort of speaking.

So, you are thinking, what does this numbering have to do with us as born-again believers in Messiah Yeshua? We are all soldiers in God’s army of believers. He’s got us all numbered. Yes, he has your number! We need to again, go back and look at our lives before and after Messiah Yeshua. Before, we were just a bunch of “hodge-podge lost sinners in the camp of HaSatan, until Yeshua took us out of that camp by shedding his blood on the cross of Calvary, when we accepted his sacrifice, we were officially “out” of the camp. Yet, there would still be a lot of “HaSatan and worldly influence” still in us, so, like the Israelites, “Egypt” was still in us.

When we accepted Messiah Yeshua as our Mashiach and Goel (Redeemer) we were added to the Commonwealth of Israel, now part of the Community, the “Adat” which began at Sinai 3500 years ago. We are the “olive branches” that have been “grafted into” the Olive Tree.

Now that we are members and citizens of “HIS People” we also are considered “soldiers” and in the LORD’s Army. However, we fight a different type of war. In this world, armies fight with RPGs, M-16s, Kalashnikovs, Berettas, M-60s, etc. We fight against, “spirits and principalities of darkness” it is a spiritual war against HaSatan and his demons. Only through the Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit) and the power of His WORD can we overcome the onslaughts of the enemy. He realizes he has lost the war, yet still continues to fight a losing battle, which was won at the cross 2000 years ago.

As the Cohenim ministered and had jobs to do, and the soldiers also had their jobs to do, we believers also had jobs within our “Kehilot” and “Adat” (congregations). That is why the Holy Spirit has given gifts of the Spirit so that we might all serve in different capacities in the body of the Messiah. In this way, the body grows and prospers. Some of us are rabbis, and pastors, who also serve as teachers. We also have ministers in music and praise, finances, maintenance, prayer intercessors, counselors, and the list can go on.

The twelve tribes of Israel encircled the Tabernacle, with the tribe of Levi next to it. The “Mishkan” was at the center of the People. Also, YHVH should be the “Center” of our lives. The whole purpose of our life is to serve our God and Creator, while loving and supporting our brothers and sisters in the faith, reaching out to others who are lost, and teaching Torah to those who have ears to hear and learn. We are “numbered” in the eyes of Elohim, HE knows who we are, He has numbered the hairs on our head, and there is no such thing as “retirement” in the work of YHVH, well, there is…. It is called d-e-a-t-h.

It is also notable to mention that the Hebrew word "B'Midbar (in the desert) also contains the letters that form the words; Son (Bar) "In the Word" (B'd'bar) and "from the Word" (M'D'bar) what could this tell us? That God would keep his people "In The Word" and would direct their journeys "from the Word" as He keeps us "In His Word" and we learn and mature "from the WORD" and we are "born again" through the "Son" (Bar) (Aramaic)

Another detail which I would like to add to this midrash. When Adonai numbered the people, he chose leaders out of each tribe. In all groups of “chosen” there are “leaders”. They can be pastors, rabbis, Sunday school teachers, Torah teachers, counselors, etc. But every group needs a leader or leaders. If not, we have a lot of sheep running around without shepherds. We see the names of the leaders. Many ask about the meanings of the names. Well, here they are as follows. Starting with chapter 1, verse 5;

“Elizur’ = My God is the rock;” Shelumiel” = At peace with God. (I know, it sounds like “Schlemiel” but it isn’t. “Zurishaddai” = My Rock is Shaddai; “Nahshon” = Serpent, “Amminadab” = The (Divine) kinsman is generous; “Nethaniel” = God hath given; “Eliab” = God is Father; “Elishama” = God hath heard, or God hears; “Ammihud” = The (Divine) kinsman is glorious; “Gammaliel” = God is my reward. In later times, it was the name of many famous rabbis, like the rabbi of Apostle Paul; “Pedahzur” = The Rock hath redeemed; “Abidan” = The Father hath judged; “Ahiezer” = The (divine) Brother is a help; “Ammishaddai” = The People of Shaddai; “Pagiel” = The lot (or fate) is given by God; “Eliasaph” = God has added; “Deuel” or “Reuel” = God is a friend; “Ahira” my brother is a friend, or, evil. (depends how we read it)

Our life is a journey and we have been counted by God for HIS divine purposes. We have a job or jobs to do while on earth, for HIS Kingdom, we will be rewarded for our efforts, yet, do we do our jobs to reap rewards? or just because we Love the LORD! and want to be in fellowship with HIM?

Life goes by quickly. Before you know it, you'll be hitting the senior years. Do not faint in doing good works, we will reap the rewards for all eternity.

Pentecost/Shavuot June 12-13th 2024.

Ben Avraham

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Thank you for caring and praying for China and Nations.

This Zoom Room was started by Chinese Christian in U.S.. They speak Chinese but not English in this Room. So it is difficult to English Speakers.

Welcome.

I know scripture says "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,' Matthew 24:12

but is anyone else noticing a pattern where loved ones and people you know are changing their behaviour and becoming
nasty and sarcastic, and at times, abusive.

I've noticed this with some family members now and also some friends.
They have no time for you, or becoming overly selfish and preoccupied
and, when you go to share, they say they have to go or are busy.

I've had some friends become abusive and seem to have no filter now and they will
say that they truly think about you.

This is with christians and non-christians.

My own husband, a christian man, turned on me 8 years ago and changes his personality and became
from being a gentle person, to an abusive person.

I've noticed a pattern.

Can anyone back this up?

It's like there has been a shift in relationships and how people interact with each other.

Thanks in advance.

If someone is not quite fitting into either of them, where should they go? For example, for me, while I agree with the principal of sola scriptura, and have been in the Lutheran church, certain practices of Lutheranism I disagree with as opposed to Orthodoxy such as rejecting the essence-energies distinction, and having statues instead of icons. Another big one is the Lutheran liturgy is not historical like Orthodoxy. However, I think because of the issue of "free will" or monergism/ faith alone however you want to call it, Orthodoxy would reject that I don't believe in a synergistic theosis as opposed to a Lutheran one (as in Jordan Cooper). There is a substantial neglect of studying the liturgy and the church fathers in Lutheranism with most emphasis on Chemnitz and Luther, even though both churches are supposed to be patristic. I wonder if should just join Orthodoxy due to these problems, as I don't disagree with that much in Orthodoxy. I'm a big proponent of the Orthodox liturgy and patristics and the fact that Lutheranism rejects Maximus, and other fathers and bases the entirety of their beliefs on Luther's modifications bugs me. I'm not sure Luther had it right on everything, just maybe free will but his other stuff like 2 kingdoms, and statues being monergistic is nonsense in my opinion, and I disagree with Lutherans discarding patristics and liturgical.

Good day, I'm asking for prayer for salvation of George Washington Union, National Sovereign Sanctuary Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis-Misraïm for the United States and Jurisdictions, Honorable Order of Universal Co-Masonry, Le Droit Humain – American federation, Le Droit Humain – American federation, National Grand Lodge Prince Hall Origin, Grand Lodge of Alabama, King Solomon Grand Lodge, Olive Branch Grand Lodge, Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alabama, Grand Lodge of Alaska, Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alaska, Grand Lodge of Arizona & families. Thank you for all your prayer.

(Photo: Unsplash/Benjamin Combs)

For many enthusiasts, tending flower beds and growing vegetables is a spiritual activity that helps them grow closer to God. It has been this way throughout Christian history, perhaps inspired by the story of the very beginning of humankind in the perfect paradise of Eden.

Then from the earliest days of monasticism, to modern smallholders and homesteaders, faith and working on the land have been deeply associated with one another.

Biblical lessons

Of course for most people in the world, and in the West before the modern era, survival and life itself depended on the practice of horticulture. Everyone except the very wealthy would enrich their diet by cultivating vegetables and fruits in any ground that could be found, and a much larger proportion of the population worked as small farmers. Perhaps this is one reason why the Bible is full of references to and metaphors of plant growth to teach about spiritual life.

The fertility and abundance of good fruit is contrasted with the aridity and famine of a desert throughout. Jesus chose cultivation to illustrate spiritual growth in the parable of the sower; in Psalm 1 those who meditate on scripture are "like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season." Gardening therefore brings a deeper understanding of these passages, as well as awe of the beauty of the created world.

Eden

Continued below.

David Morrill of Portland, Oregon, was involved in conspiracy theory communities online until a mental health crisis forced him to confront his beliefs. He talked with his father about how he found his way back to reality. Their conversation is part of our Student Reporting Labs series on misinformation, “Moments of Truth.”

Watch the video above to learn more, and then answer the discussion questions in the upper-right corner of this page.

This lesson was originally posted here on PBS NewsHour Classroom on February 13, 2023. Check out more resources at NewsHour Classroom.



DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discussion Questions for Moment of Truth: How Online Conspiracy Theories Led to This Man’s Mental Health Crisis

​

This is a very long, but also very interesting read. I hope that y'all may enjoy as well as be blessed by this article.

Hello brothers and sisters, I've been searching for a forum to discuss some of the lingering questions I have regarding the Bible and how certain things apply in modern times. I originally ended up on r/Christianity (as it was the first to pop up during my search) and I have been utterly disgusted by it. Seemingly half of the people on the board proclaim themselves as Christians while spewing the most vile, blasphemous rhetoric I have ever heard. It seems to me that these people are actually radicalized leftists who actively seek to disrupt and degrade our faith. They pretend to be one of us so they can say "well I'm a Christian and I believe such and such is true" in an attempt to muddy the water and create the illusion of support for things that are inherently wrong. (Abortion being one of the most prevalent topics).


I could go on and on naming specific examples, but I guess I'm just seeking some reassurance that there are true networks of Christians on the internet who operate in good faith. I truly hope to find my people here, and I want to thank you for allowing me to join.


-JW

So it appears my search is getting to an end. It doesn't matter how much I search, I just get to the same place. A complete and utter hatred for everyone and everything in this world.

First, I hate the people who cannot read the four characters of YHWH. They claim to be professors and experts, and they try to educate me, even though this should be obvious to anyone with half a brain, what the four characters mean. I wish them sickness and death, because their presence is just regurgiating.

Then I hate the people of this country. I know them on a level few people know about them. They are disgusting beings, with less of a soul than an animal.

In fact, I am so disgusted by this situation and the people around me, that I would rather die than to continue being a witness to this.

Now when Christ was in the world, all you had to do was to say his name basically and somebody would kill you. That's alot more merciful than my current situation.

Over the weekend, I went to the park to share the Gospel. Upon returning to my car, I witnessed a concerning sight: another vehicle went past hastily, yet one of its tyres was blown and the wheel scraped against the ground, emitting smoke and sparks.
My instincts kicked in, suspecting foul play—a stolen car taken for a joyride. Fueled by excitement, I decided to tail the vehicle, intent on thwarting the thieves. However, after just a minute of pursuit, the car disappeared around a bend, leaving me momentarily puzzled.
Soon, I spotted it down a nearby driveway, smoke rising from the back right-hand side. Hastily turning around and parking outside the driveway to block any escape, I approached the scene. Small flames licked from the shredded tyre. If left, this would have spread not only engulfing the car but also to the adjacent house.
Then, a frail, elderly woman emerged from the house with a bucket of water. Grabbing it from her, I attempted to douse the flames to no avail. Urging her to fetch a hose, I ventured inside for another bucket, only to find the fire stubbornly persistent.
Thankfully, the woman returned with a hose, and after connecting it to the tap, I sprayed the underside of the car until the fire relented. It dawned on me then that she was the driver, unaware of how to change a punctured tyre. In a panicked moment, she rushed home at speed, hoping that the police would not see her.
With the crisis averted, I made sure the lady was OK before departing. Yet, halfway home, regret washed over me—I missed a crucial opportunity. I could have assisted her in changing the tyre and shared the Gospel with her while doing it. It was a missed chance, and I couldn't help but feel frustrated.

Thinking back on what happened, I need to always keep an eye out for opportunities to talk about the Gospel and lend a hand whenever I can. Always be vigilant.

These past few months I’ve been slacking and somewhat grew bitter about my life and my relationship with god. Ive grown bitter and have been living in unrepentant sin. I think that I’ve been actively hardening my heart again but I’m trying to stop it now.

I’ve been trying to return to god after years of being away and I recently talked to a pastor. I’ve still been debating with myself on a lot of things but I think I hold worldly sorrow/false guilt. It’s still guilt but it’s temporary I think. I’ll constantly remind myself of what exactly I’ve done and remember but I know that’s not repentance. I’ve hurt a lot of people in my life and this pastor said to trust god to restore the damage and help those who I’ve hurt and to trust that Jesus can still cover those sins even if they have hurt other people or if there’s some condemning verse about it. I do know that it’s a common belief that if you still care then you haven’t blasphemed the Holy Spirit or anything however what if I truly don’t care? I’ve been neglectful of my spiritual situation and my relationship with god for years and i ‘stopped caring’ for some time. I stopped walking in the ways of god and stopped acknowledging my sins, instead I pursued them and I didn’t care for the consequences or if they would estrange me from god. I don’t think I am sincere and I don’t think I care but I truly want to care. I think there’s a huge chance that I’ve dulled my conscience and use this ’false guilt’ to at least make me care a little, otherwise without it I don’t care.

The “Divine Nine,” a group of prestigious Black fraternities and sororities, is contending with hundreds of videos accusing them of idolatry or worse

When Candace Junée was a senior at Washington University in St. Louis, she walked into a dark, candlelit room and knelt on a pillow as she prepared to join Alpha Kappa Alpha, the world’s oldest Black Greek-letter sorority.

Junée didn’t think much about the ceremony until a year after she graduated, in 2015, when she joined a new church and heard members say Christians shouldn’t belong to Black sororities and fraternities like hers. Already inactive in her sorority’s activities, she told The Washington Post, she revoked her membership privately through prayer. Then last year, after some of Junée’s acquaintances told her God wanted her to leave AKA permanently, she posted videos on YouTube and TikTok calling the rituals she went through “openly demonic” and the sorority a breeding ground for “idolatry.”

She is part of a growing number of people who have publicly denounced their affiliation with a group of the largest historically Black sororities and fraternities, the National Pan-Hellenic Council or “Divine Nine.” There are hundreds of videos in the same vein as Junée’s, either condemning the groups as anti-Christian and paganist, or defending them from those accusations.

Black Greek-letter organizations formed in the 20th century as havensof sisterhood and brotherhood for college students who were generally discriminated against and barred from joining existing sororities and fraternities. The groups continue to be fixtures in Black culture, holding fundraisers, voter registration drives and stepping and strollingperformances. “Crossing” into one of the organizations through a mix of public and secretive rituals has facilitated lifelong career connections and friendships, and a sense of connection to famous Divine Nine members such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who pledged to Alpha Phi Alpha and Vice President Harris, an AKA.

The grandson of a minister and the immediate past president of Alpha Phi Alpha’s Inglewood, Calif., chapter, Ross said public denunciations have the “intellectual nutritional value of a Snicker bar.”

Now, US Customs and Border Protection and the FBI say the gang is established in the US.

“They have followed the migration paths across South America to other countries and have set up criminal groups throughout South America as they follow those paths, and that they appear to follow the migration north to the United States,” Britton Boyd, an FBI special agent in El Paso, Texas, told CNN said.

US Border Patrol chief Jason Owens, who has confirmed multiple arrests at the southern border of alleged Tren de Aragua members over the last year, issued a warning in early April. “Watch out for this gang. It is the most powerful in Venezuela, known for murder, drug trafficking, sex crimes, extortion, & other violent acts,” Owens said on X.

The Mexican cartels have thrived under the Biden border policies, and human trafficking is their big money maker. It was only a matter of time for other gangs to get established in the United States. I don't understand why any moral person would support the current border policies that make crime so easy.

In this case, it's the ironically mislabeled Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) objecting to canine handling soldiers expressing their Christian faith. It seems that putting Biblical scripture dog tags on their service animals offends MRFF's intention for a godless society.

Once again, an organization who's soul purpose is to undermine America's Christian heritage chooses to oppose God and oppress good citizens under the misguided notion of separation of church and state. Not only has MRFF failed to understand the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment concerning freedom of religion, but it has demonstrated intolerance towards those who would express their faith in any public way.

I'd hope that religious people of all faiths would see the problem with this and that irreligious people could learn to understand that in America we have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion - at least that's what the highest laws of the land hold.

While they would rather "mend not end" DEI, what the university leaders describe gets to the heart of what is happening on college campuses.

To those who have paid close attention to DEI’s growth on the quad, the anti-Israel sentiments on U.S. campuses aren’t surprising.

Timothy Minella, senior fellow at the Arizona-based Goldwater Institute, believes that the antisemitism on display is directly correlated to the adoption of this flawed diversity agenda.

The hatred needs to stop.

Loosely speaking, yes.

Some people think the KJV is the word of God, but God did not speak to Abraham in English. Technically, I consider the Bible a translation of a recording of the word of God.

One problem is that there is no universal definition of the Bible. The Protestant Bible has 66 books, the Catholic Bible 73, the Orthodox Bible 81, and the Ethiopian Bible 86.

Let's arbitrarily fix a definition of the Bible as defined by the 66 books of the Protestant canon. Still, there is another problem: Which ancient manuscripts are the word of God? Matthew 17:21 is missing from NIV because of its choice of manuscripts. There are variations and inconsistencies among manuscripts.

Now, let's look at 1 Corinthians 7:

12b I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

Click to expand...

Paul wrote and expressed his personal opinion.

In any case, whether it is direct quotations from God or Paul's personal opinions, 2 Timothy 3:

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Click to expand...

2 Peter 1:

21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Click to expand...

Is the Bible the word of God?

Yes, loosely speaking.

No, if you want to be precise about it.

Why doesn't the omission of verses in some Bible translations affect the Bible's legitimacy as the word of God?

Technically, the Bible is not the exact word of God but a human recording of God's words.

Is the Bible infallible or inerrant?

It is better to stick to the phraseology of the Bible and just say that all Scripture is God-breathed.

How do the OT and NT Scriptures differ from other religious scriptures?

The Bible records history from the beginning to the end. It records the acts of historical figures (Adam, Jesus) and how they interacted with the one true God.

See also Was Acts 7:16 inspired?.

Hi,

I have been thinking, thing is I dont like to sing worship music in church services, thing is I don't have talent to sing, if I had maybe I would love it. Some have talent some don't in singing.
Some people like to play music at home when resting for example, I dont do this, my home is silent, I prefer silence no music.
I rather listen to something educational like a debate or conference for example.

I think God created worship music for those who like music, I know some people like music, love to sing and dance, so it is for them to fullfill their needs.

I used to sing along in music worship, it was more like, I felt obligated as a christian and the worship leader kinda obligated is to sing saying things like lets express our love for God, God is to be praised etc, now that I am older and wiser I dont do it no more, I dont have a need for this. I dont think God obligates us to sing worship music. God is no human he doesnt need us at all.


Br,

The bill considers the Ten Commandments an important historical and cultural document that influenced the founding of the US, one that students should study.

Legislators in the state of Louisiana have passed a bill that would require all public schools to display the Ten Commandments. While Republican Governor Jeff Landry has yet to comment on whether he will sign the bill into law, it would most likely be challenged by both state and federal civil liberties unions, which have called the bill “unconstitutional.”

According to CNN, the bill was passed through the state’s House of Representatives in a vote of 79-16. If signed, the law would require all classrooms of public schools from kindergarten to college to display the Ten Commandments.
The wording of the bill, HB71, allows each school to decide upon “the nature of the display,” but it must at least be shown on a poster or framed document, sized at least 11x14 inches. Furthermore, it stipulates that the Ten Commandments must be the central focus of the display, printed in a font that is large enough to be easily read from anywhere in the classroom.
While opponents of the bill have argued that posting a document of religious origins in public schools is a breach of the separation of church and state, the bill has taken a different angle. It presents the Ten Commandments as an important historical and cultural document that played a pivotal role in the founding documents of the US.

Continued below.

By blocking overtime rules that will increase their access to overtime pay.
Republicans Launch Effort to Block New DOL Overtime Pay Rule


Seriously, short of the two words "tax cut" do Republicans even want to portray the veneer of helping the working man?

More than 67 need to step up.

please pray for healing having a scan tomorrow.