If you want bibles that still speak the truth you better buy them now. I have a feeling there is a day coming where in AMERICA you will no longer be able to get the word of God as it will be banned as hate speech.
Now on to the news story.

Man sues Zondervan to change anti-gay reference in Bible

CASCADE TOWNSHIP -- A Canton man is suing Zondervan Publishing and a Tennessee-based publisher, claiming their versions of the Bible that refer to homosexuality as a sin violate his constitutional rights and have caused him emotional pain and mental instability.

Bradley LaShawn Fowler, 39, is seeking $60 million from Zondervan, based in Cascade Township, and $10 million from Thomas Nelson Publishing in the lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

He is representing himself in both claims.

Fowler alleges Zondervan's Bibles referring to homosexuality as a sin have made him an outcast from his family and contributed to physical discomfort and periods of "demoralization, chaos and bewilderment."

The intent of the publisher was to design a religious, sacred document to reflect an individual opinion or a group's conclusion to cause "me or anyone who is a homosexual to endure verbal abuse, discrimination, episodes of hate, and physical violence ... including murder," Fowler wrote.

The other suit, against Thomas Nelson and its New King James Bible, mirrors the allegations made against Zondervan.

This guy wants to censor the Bible. He wants to delete references to homosexuality as sinful.
People keep saying we will never allow it, Not in America. Well its happening.

I mean really...If he has a problem with the bible, maybe he should take the issue up with GOD?

Jeremiah 19:1-2 KJV  Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests;  (2)  And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,

east – charcuwth – potsherd; this gate was called the "potsherd" gate because when people had trash like broken pieces of pottery, they would go out this gate on the way to the trash dump located in the valley of Hinnom. The gate was also called the "dung" gate.

valley of the son of Hinnom – the Hebrew is "geh ben hinnom", sometimes shortened to "the valley of Hinnom" or, "ge-hinnom"

This valley was located south of Jerusalem.

A place in the southeast end of the valley was called "Tophet" or "place of fire". It was in Tophet that some of the Jews worshiped Molech.

Molech was formed as a bronze statue with his arms outstretched. He was heated in the fire until he became red hot, and then the little children would be placed in his arms as a sacrifice as the priests beat their drums and yelled their chants to drown out the baby's screams as it died in the arms of Molech.
Moloch went by many names including, but not limited to, Ba'al, Moloch, Apis Bull, Golden Calf, Chemosh, as well as many other names.

It was in this valley that even King Manasseh sacrifice his son to Molech (2Ki. 21:6).

Later, King Josiah would tear down the pagan altars there and defile them.
2Ki 23:10 And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

Eventually it was turned into a garbage dump where the fires were kept burning to consume worm infested garbage, animal carcasses, and dead bodies like the abandoned dead bodies of criminals. It became a vivid picture of hell. The name "Gehenna" became the Hebrew term for "hell".

Jeremiah 19:3 KJV  And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.

1 Samuel 3:11 KJV  And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

Jeremiah 19:4 KJV  Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents;

Blood of innocents = Children = human sacrifice

Jeremiah 19:5 KJV  They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:

We have a similar problem in this country. For the sake of worshiping pleasure, we are sacrificing children. Abortion.

Jeremiah 19:6-9 KJV  Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.  (7)  And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.  (8)  And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.  (9)  And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.

Cannibalism during the siege of the Babylonians against Jerusalem.

It is a curse God warned them about.

Deuteronomy 28:53-55 KJV  (53)  And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:  (54)  So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:  (55)  So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

Jeremiah 19:10-12 KJV  Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee,  (11)  And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.  (12)  Thus will I do unto this place, saith the LORD, and to the inhabitants thereof, and even make this city as Tophet:

Broken pottery is not easily put back together.

Jeremiah 19:13-15 KJV  And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.  (14)  Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD'S house; and said to all the people,  (15)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

Do you have hometown pride? Do you
love the place you were born and raised? Do you still live in that
area?

I will admit. I have hometown pride. I
love Lancaster County Pennsylvania. There are many reasons for that.

One reason would be I love the country.
I was born and raised on a farm and I just love it.

Another reason would be Pennsylvania
Dutch. I love talking it and hearing it. It is a wonderful way to Communicate.

Also I love living among all the Amish
and Mennonites. I will admit that more non-plain people have been
moving into the area every year. It seems like the Hispanic and
Russian population has grown a lot. I told my husband this morning
maybe I should learn Spanish. I used to feel that knowing English,
German and Pennsylvania Dutch were enough.

I can trace my heritage back hundreds
of years in this area. From when Christian Martin came over until
today.

And the fun of “mud sales”

Fire company sales have been a regular
event here in Lancaster County since the mid-1960's. These auctions
help local volunteer fire companies raise funds. Since many of the
items are sold outside during the Spring, these events have
affectionately become known as "mud sales".

Often both inside and outside auctions
take place simultaneously, and sometimes numerous auctions take place at once throughout the
grounds. The Winter and early Spring dates work out best for local
farmers. That's when they have more time available.

Items sold vary from auction to auction
and include a wide variety of donated goods and consignment merchandise. Auctioned items often include: furniture, craft items,
quilts, building materials, livestock, buggies and carriages, tools,
farming supplies, garden items, and more.

We also have some great stuff to see in
this area like:

BIBLICAL TABERNACLE REPRODUCTION

Mennonite Information Center, 2209
Millstream Rd., Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-299-0954

Visit the full-size reproduction of
Moses' Tabernacle in the Wilderness, designed from Biblical
descriptions in the book of Exodus. Lecture tours explain the history
and spiritual significance of this dwelling place of God among his
people.

HANDS-ON HOUSE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF
LANCASTER

721 Landis Valley Road, Lancaster, PA
17601, 717-569-KIDS

There's so much to explore at the
area's only museum where playing and learning go hand-in-hand.
Not-for-profit museum features shared educational experiences that
delight kids and parents alike. Self-directed exhibits for adults and
children ages 2-10 to explore together. Exhibits include Marty's
Machine Shop, E-I-E-I KNOW, Mostly Make-Believe, and more!.

ROUGH AND TUMBLE ENGINEERS HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATION, INC.

4977 Lincoln Hwy. East (Route 30),
Kinzers, PA 17535, 717-442-4249

The most complete steam and gas shows
around. See in operation and display antique tractor pulls,
threshing, steam traction and stationary steam engines, large gas
engines and hit and miss engines, tractors, construction equipment,
our blacksmith shop and sawmill. Visit our model shop, antique car
display, ride 2 steam railroads.

EPHRATA CLOISTER

632 W. Main St., Ephrata, PA 17522
717-733-6600

One of America's earliest religious
communities, the Ephrata Cloister was founded in 1732 by German
settlers seeking spiritual goals rather than earthly rewards.
Gathered in unique European style buildings, the community consisted
of celibate Brothers and Sisters, and a married congregation of
families.

And something many people not even from
this area seem to know about...Green Dragon

GREEN DRAGON MARKET & AUCTION

955 North State Street, Ephrata, PA
17522 717-738-1117

Green Dragon comes alive every Friday
morning in the little country town of Ephrata in Lancaster County.
Thousands of local shoppers have visited this local attraction since
1932 for their weekly shopping from over 400 local growers, merchants
and craftsmen. With a long and unique history, the market continues
to grow as a family owned business years later.

Located on a thirty acre site in the
heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the Green Dragon Market has
grown to be one of the largest Farmers Markets on the East Coast..
Featuring over 20 acres of FREE parking, the market offers visitors
the choice of shopping indoors or outdoors. With 7 large market
buildings and many other smaller shops, the Green Dragon merchants
offer everything from "soup to nuts".

There is a local saying, "if you
can't buy it at the Green Dragon, it chust ain't fer sale!"

Jeremiah 18:1-4 KJV  The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,  (2)  Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.  (3)  Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  (4)  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Jeremiah is told to go down to the house of a potter where he watches the potter molding the clay. God is going to teach him something by watching the potter mold the clay. As the potter works with the clay on the pottery wheel, a flaw develops in the lump of clay. So the potter smashes the work and starts over again.

Jeremiah 18:5-6 KJV  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  (6)  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

God was the potter and Israel was the clay. Even though a fatal flaw was found in Israel, God would be remaking the nation into something useful. As the potter, God has the right to do what He wants with the nation.

Romans 9:21 KJV  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

The best thing that can happen to the clay is to yield to the Master Potter. Don't fight Him. Let Him mold you into what He wants.

There was an officer in the navy who had always dreamed of commanding a battleship. He finally achieved that dream and was given commission of the newest and proudest ship in the fleet. One stormy night, as the ship plowed through the seas, the captain was on duty on the bridge when off to the port he spotted a strange light rapidly closing with his own vessel. Immediately he ordered the signalman to flash the message to the unidentified craft, "Alter your course ten degrees to the south." Only a moment had passed before the reply came: "Alter your course ten degrees to the north." Determined that his ship would take a backseat to no other, the captain snapped out the order to be sent: "Alter course ten degrees--I am the CAPTAIN!" The response beamed back, "Alter your course ten degrees--I am Seaman Third Class Jones." Now infuriated, the captain grabbed the signal light with his own hands and fired off: "Alter course, I am a battleship." The reply came back. "Alter your course, I am a lighthouse."

Yield to the Lord. Don't be afraid of what He's going to do with you.

Let Him work it out in His timing.

To discuss the authority of Almighty God seems a bit meaningless, and to question it would be absurd. Can we imagine the Lord God of Hosts having to request permission of anyone or to apply for anything to a higher body? To whom would God go for permission? Who is higher than the Highest? Who is mightier than the Almighty? Whose position antedates that of the Eternal? At w hose throne would God kneel? Where is the greater one to whom he must appeal?
A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)

Jeremiah 18:7-8 KJV  At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;  (8)  If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

repent – nacham – (Niphal) to be sorry, be moved to pity, have compassion; to be sorry, rue, suffer grief, repent
If a nation repents, God has the right to be merciful.

Jeremiah 18:9-10 KJV  And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;  (10)  If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

God also has the right to bring judgment on a nation that turns its heart from the Lord.
God has the right to do whatever He wants in our lives. He's the potter. We are the clay. Be careful about fighting what He wants to do in your life. It goes easier if you just yield to Him.
Sometimes we see difficult times coming and we want to run away. But what if those difficult times are the very thing that God is using to mold us and shape us.

Romans 5:3-5 NLT We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. {4} And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. {5} And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
What do you consider the key events in your life that have molded you and made you the person you are today?
For most of us, we would probably look back to certain difficult times. It was then that God either worked to get our attention, or He taught us how to trust Him and serve Him.

Jeremiah 18:11-17 KJV  Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.  (12)  And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.  (13)  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.  (14)  Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?  (15)  Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;  (16)  To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.  (17)  I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

They had turned their back on God so God said He would turn His back on them.

God is looking for people He can count on.
We call this quality "faithfulness".

Matthew 25:20-21 KJV And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. {21} His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Jeremiah 18:18 KJV  Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

Jeremiah 18:18 NLT Then the people said, "Come on, let's find a way to stop Jeremiah. We have our own priests and wise men and prophets. We don't need him to teach the law and give us advice and prophecies. Let's spread rumors about him and ignore what he says."

In other words, Shoot the messenger.

People do not always appreciate your ministry. God's opinion is the only one that really matters.

Jeremiah 18:19-20 KJV  Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.  (20)  Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.

People have different ideas of what is good for them. Jeremiah's messages have been tough on the people, but they are what they need to hear. His messages have been good for them. The people just want to be told how good and nice they are. They don't want to hear difficult things.

Jeremiah 18:21-23 KJV  Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.  (22)  Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.  (23)  Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.

One moment he's praying and weeping for the people, the next he's upset and asking for God to destroy them.
We know that we're supposed to be loving and kind to one another, but frankly sometimes people can be quite mean and hurtful.
Do you quit when you face opposition or disappointment? No. You keep going.

God bless you today and draw you closer to Him. May He help you do His will and live for Him.

My son had a fun first day at Summer School today.

Jeremiah 17:1 KJV  The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

Their Hearts are stone. Not a good thing.

Jeremiah 17:2 KJV  Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.

The Children are learning their sinful behavior. What will your children remember about your faith?

Jeremiah 17:3-4 KJV  O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.  (4)  And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.

Your behavior has brought this judgement.

Jeremiah 17:5 KJV  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Cursed are those who depend on something other then God.

Jeremiah 17:6 KJV  For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

Stuff doesn't grow good in salt land.

(Jer 17:6 NLT)  They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives.

Jeremiah 17:7-10 KJV  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.  (8)  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.  (9)  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?  (10)  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

There is nothing secure in this world but Jesus. It doesn't matter how far up the corporate ladder you are. At one time it was cool to be part of Enron and look at what happened there. There is nothing secure but Jesus.

Some were ridding high til that dot com bubble burst. Then the company they thought was everything collapsed and they were bankrupt. It can happen. We need to trust in the Lord.

The poor are rich in faith.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.. The Lord will not fail.

When someone in the world says, "Just trust your heart", it kind of creeps me out.  We need to be careful about trusting our hearts.

Sometimes you hear people say, "Well, God knows my heart."
Yes, He does. Guess what. It is bad. It is like old socks. The heart is deceitful. It is wicked.

Yet even as a Christian, I need to be careful when it comes to my heart.  The apostle Paul, as a Christian, wrote,
(Rom 7:18-19 KJV)  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. {19} For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

How can I tell where the thoughts are coming from?

God's Word
(Heb 4:12 KJV)  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Prayer
(Psa 139:23-24 KJV)  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: {24} And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Can I ever "follow my heart"?
Yes, but make sure you've run those thoughts through God's filtering process.
(Psa 37:4 KJV)  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Jeremiah 17:11-14 KJV  As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.  (12)  A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.  (13)  O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.  (14)  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

All you have to do is ask Him.

Jeremiah 17:15-22 KJV  Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.  (16)  As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.  (17)  Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.  (18)  Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.  (19)  Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;  (20)  And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:  (21)  Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;  (22)  Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.

The fifth commandment was to remember the Sabbath day.
(Exo 20:8-11 KJV)  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. {9} Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: {10} But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: {11} For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Jeremiah 17:23 KJV  But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

But they didn't do that.

Jeremiah 17:24-26 KJV  And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;  (25)  Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.  (26)  And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD.

God says, "Obey and I will bless you."

Jeremiah 17:27 KJV  But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

The importance of the Sabbath
There are a couple of principles at work in the Sabbath, no matter what day you give to Him.

1.  Trusting God.
Instead of trusting in yourself and working harder and harder to make ends meet, trust God by giving Him a day.  Trust Him to provide for your needs if you will honor Him one day a week.

2. Rest.
The Sabbath was to be a day of rest.  If God took a day off and rested, perhaps we ought to as well.

In Jeremiah's day the people were flagrantly breaking the Sabbath.  They worked just as hard on the Sabbath day as every other day of the week.

In Jesus' day the pendulum had swung so far the other way that Jesus was criticized for healing people on the Sabbath.

In Nehemiah's day, after the people had been in captivity in Babylon and had finally been restored to the land, there was still a problem with the Sabbath.

(Neh 13:15-18 NLT)  One Sabbath day I saw some men of Judah treading their winepresses. They were also bringing in bundles of grain and loading them on their donkeys. And on that day they were bringing their wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of produce to Jerusalem to sell. So I rebuked them for selling their produce on the Sabbath. {16} There were also some men from Tyre bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise. They were selling it on the Sabbath to the people of Judah--and in Jerusalem at that! {17} So I confronted the leaders of Judah, "Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way? {18} Wasn't it enough that your ancestors did this sort of thing, so that our God brought the present troubles upon us and our city? Now you are bringing even more wrath upon the people of Israel by permitting the Sabbath to be desecrated in this way!"

Nehemiah knew that one of the reasons for the Babylonian judgment was the neglect of the Sabbath Laws.  He didn't want to see them go through it again.

There was a meeting of pastors where they heard a message by Dr. Archibald Hart, clinical psychologist, dean of psychology at Fuller Seminary, often heard on Focus on the Family, and a very Biblically grounded Christian. He talked about a new book he just finished, "Thrilled to Death", where he discusses the new phenomena in our society called anhedonia ("no pleasure"), a rising problem in the population where people are not able to experience pleasure. The problem seems to be that we're simply overloaded. People are addicted to adrenaline, always looking for some new thrill. We multi-task, we carry our cell phones everywhere, we are trying to cram more and more things into our lives. People can't drive in the car without turning on a radio. We can't live without having a TV making noise. Some churches feel that to keep people coming to their church they have to keep coming up with more elaborate productions. The music has to be louder and faster. The message has to be shorter.
The problem is that we don't leave any time for silence and reflection.

And we wonder why we have a hard time hearing from God.

When the prophet Elijah was running for his life, he ended up in a cave in the middle of nowhere. And he had an encounter with God.

At first Elijah felt a strong wind, then an earthquake, and then lightning.  But God wasn't in those things (1Ki. 19:11-13).  It was with a "still small voice" that God spoke to Elijah.

If we're expecting God to speak in a loud voice, we just might miss it.

God often speaks with a "still, small voice". We need to learn to be quiet before Him. We need to give Him time in our lives to hear His voice.

Take time to rest.  Take time to be quiet before God.  Take time to pray.

The Jews don't believe that the first five books of the Bible were all that Moses received from God.  They also believe that God told him a lot more things, things that were passed down from rabbi to rabbi until they were finally written down 200 years after Jesus.  These teachings – six volumes - are called the Mishna.

The Mishna has an entire book that gives lots of details just about the Sabbath Law (the entire section has 24 chapters)
Chapter 1: Regulations Regarding Transfer
…A tailor shall not go out with his needle when it is nearly dark on Friday, lest he forget and go out (carrying it about with him) after dark …nor shall one search for vermin in his garments …
Chapter 3: Regulations Concerning stones, hearths, and ovens.
MISHNA II.: (Victuals) shall not be put either inside or on top of an oven that was heated with straw or with stubble; a firing-pot that was heated with straw or with stubble is (considered by the law) as a stone, but if it was heated with pressed poppy seed or with wood it is considered as an oven.
MISHNA III.: An egg shall not be put close to a boiler to get it settled, nor must it be wrapped in a hot cloth. R. Jose permits it; also it must not be put into hot sand or in the (hot) dust of the road that it be roasted (by the heat of the sun). It once happened that the inhabitants of Tiberias had laid a pipe of cold water through the arm of their hot springs. But the sages explained to them that on the Sabbath this water is considered like any other warmed on the Sabbath, and must not be used either for washing or drinking; and should this be done on a feast day, it is like water heated by fire, which may be used for drinking only, but not for washing.
MISHNA V.: Into a kettle, the hot water of which has been spilt out and which has been removed from the fire, cold water is not permitted to be poured, for the purpose of heating; but it is permitted to pour water into the kettle, or into a cup, for the purpose of making such water lukewarm.
Chapter 5: Regulations concerning what may and may not be worn by animals on the Sabbath
MISHNA I.: What gear may we let animals go about in and what not? The male camel in a bridle; the female cannel with a nose-ring; Lybian asses in a halter, and a horse in a collar.
Chapter 15:  Regulations concerning the tying and untying of knots
A woman may tie the slit of her tunic, the bands of her hood, the bands of her girdle, the straps of her shoes and sandals…R. Eliezer, the son of Jacob, says: "One may tie a rope in front of cattle, in order that they may not escape." One may tie a bucket (over the well) with his girdle, but not with a rope.
Chapter 18:  Regulations regarding the clearing off of required space, the assistance to be given cattle when given birth to their young and to women about to be confined.

MISHNA: One may set a basket on end for chickens, in order that they may climb up or down upon it. A runaway hen may be chased until she goes back again. One may lead about calves or young asses to exercise them. A woman may lead her son about to give him exercise. R. Jehudah says: "When (may she do) this? If the child lifts one foot and sets down the other; but if it trails (its leg) behind, she must not."
Chapter 23:  Regulations concerning borrowing, casting lots, waiting for the close of the Sabbath and attending to a corpse.

MISHNA: A man may borrow of an acquaintance jugs of wine or oil (on Sabbath), provided he does not say to him: "Lend (them to) me…."
The traditions of the Mishna weren't actually given to Moses, but made up by the rabbis over the years.  This is one of the things that Jesus confronted the Pharisees about continually, that they held the traditions of men more important than the commandments of God.  They dishonored God with their traditions, including their Sabbath laws.

In the New Testament, we see Jesus getting into trouble for healing people, for asking people to pick up their bed, allowing His disciples to pick grain, and for having someone wash mud from their eyes on the Sabbath.

In one instance Jesus healed a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years…
(Luke 13:14-16 NKJV)  But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day." {15} The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? {16} "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound; think of it; for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"

You would help your animal on the Sabbath, why not help people too?  In another confrontation over the Sabbath Jesus said,
(Mark 2:27 NKJV)  "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

The Sabbath was intended to be a good thing for man, not some complicated law that makes life more difficult.

Saturday or Sunday?
There are some churches that say we must worship on Saturday instead of Sunday because of the Sabbath Law.  Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. It was to be sign between Israel and God (not a Gentile thing)
(Exo 31:13 NKJV)  "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
Eze 20:12 "Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I [am] the LORD who sanctifies them.

2. Sunday honors the resurrection
(John 20:1 NKJV)  Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
We set aside Sunday as a day of worship because Jesus rose on a Sunday.

3. The early church met on Sunday
(Acts 20:7 NKJV)  Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
(1 Cor 16:2 NKJV)  On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

4. Any day is okay with God
(Rom 14:5 NKJV)  One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

The Sabbath is supposed to be a day to get closer to God.

May God bless you today and draw you closer to Him.

German home schoolers flee to Canada

There's a new development in the plight of a German family under persecution for home schooling.

Mike Donnelly of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has followed the case, which has now gone to an extreme. He explains the latest development.
 
"The Plett family, who had been living in Austria after being chased
out of Germany by the youth welfare authorities who had taken custody
of their children, have now left Austria and have fled to Canada where
they hope to be able to freely home school their children without
further interference from German authorities," he says.
 
According to Donnelly, the Pletts' dilemma is becoming an "increasingly
common occurrence" in Germany. He says most of those who flee Germany
for the same reason stay in Europe because they are able to travel
freely between countries -- but they will go to extremes to protect
their rights, he notes.
 
"In fact, not too long ago one family actually decided to flee Germany
to Iran to home school their children, if you can believe a family
fleeing Germany to Iran for freedom," the attorney shares.
 
While the Plett family appeals to the European Court of Human Rights,
the HSLDA is asking the U.S. government to try to convince the German
government that home schooling is an asset.

German authorities have cracked down on homeschooling families (mostly Christian), who have no intention of letting the German schools indoctrinate their children with anti-Christian values.

In January 2005, a mother and father were each sentenced to six days imprisonment in Westphalia after they refused to pay the fines for having forbidden their children to attend a Christmas school play of Grimm's fairytale "King Thrushbeard", which they considered blasphemous.

Jeremiah 16:1-2 KJV  The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying,  (2)  Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.

Marriage was a normal expected outcome for men. God though is sparing Jeremiah a lot of heartache because of what is coming,

Jeremiah 16:3-4 KJV  For thus saith the LORD concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land;  (4)  They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

Why? Because they refused to listen to God. They reached a point where they are beyong correction and now God has to judge them.
dung = poop

Jeremiah 16:5-6 KJV  For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.  (6)  Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them:

Cut themselves = a pagan practice that they had adopted. God told them not to.

Leviticus 19:28 KJV  Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

Make themselves bald = another pagan practice.

Jeremiah 16:7-8 KJV  Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.  (8)  Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink.

Separate yourself from them.

Jeremiah 16:9-10 KJV  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride.  (10)  And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?

You are in a bad place when you are in open sin and rebellion and you have to ask: "what am I doing wrong?"
Our society is reaching that.

Jeremiah 16:11-12 KJV  Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;  (12)  And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:

That sounds like now. Remember when the 60's were radical? It is worse then that now.

Jeremiah 16:13 KJV  Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.

What their ancestors had done was bad, but what these people were doing was worse.
They walked after the "imagination of their evil heart".
Instead of paying attention to the things that God said, they paid attention to their own imaginations.
This is like the person who says, "Well I don't believe in hell because I can't believe that a God of love would send anyone to hell".
It sounds nice to our mind, but it's a thought based on a person's imagination, not on the truth.
God is love.  God is also just and holy.

Hell exists as a part of God's justice, as to how God will make all things right.  Debts must be paid.  Crimes must be punished.

God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die on a cross in your place, paying for your sins, so you wouldn't have to go to hell.

Now that is love.

(1 John 3:16 KJV)  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

It's important that we base what we believe about God upon God's Word, upon what God says about Himself.
The more you stay in the Word, the more your ideas about who God is will change.  Don't be surprised if you find that some of your ideas about God are challenged by what the Word says.

Jeremiah 16:14-15 KJV  Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;  (15)  But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

Began happening really heavily is 1992 and is ongoing now. The Jews from all over the earth, returning to their homeland.

Could God do a new work in you?  Would you be open to it?
Sometimes we get in a rut and look back to certain times in our lives when God was at work and we think that's the standard, that's as good as it gets.
But what if God wants to take you further?

Jeremiah 16:16-17 KJV  Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.  (17)  For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.

Nothing is hidden from God.

Jeremiah 16:18 KJV  And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.

Their idols, their human sacrifice and other stuff.

Jeremiah 16:19-21 KJV  O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.  (20)  Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?  (21)  Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD.

The LORD – Again, the English translators follow the Jewish tradition of replacing the actual name of the Lord with the word "LORD", out of respect for the holy name of God.  Our English translations use all capital letters to clue us in to the fact that the actual Hebrew is "Yahweh".  "They shall know that my name is "Yahweh".
To the ancient Jewish mind, it was absolutely inconceivable to think that there would ever be such a thing as a Gentile (a non-Jew) in heaven.
For the early church, they had a difficult time understanding that God wanted Gentiles to be saved.  Peter reluctantly preached the gospel at the house of Cornelius the Gentile centurion, but when a group of Gentiles got saved (Acts 10), the church seemed to treat it like some sort of exception to the rule.
It's not until Acts 15, when Paul is brought before the church to explain his ministry with the Gentiles that the church finally, officially realized that God wanted Gentiles to be saved.

Acts 15:15 KJV  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

They realized that the Scriptures had actually foretold that God would one day bring salvation to the Gentiles.  Scriptures like this one in Jeremiah.

May God bless you today and draw you closer to Him.
Keep on Keeping on.

Luke 11:1 KJV  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Rabbi's created prayers a lot of times to help their students.

Luke 11:2 KJV  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

When not if

Luke 11:3-4 KJV  Give us day by day our daily bread.  (4)  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

This is different from the one in Matthew.

Matthew 6:1-2 KJV  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.  (2)  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

They wanted attention that is all they get. Go to your own private place.

Matthew 6:3-7 KJV  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:  (4)  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.  (5)  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  (6)  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.  (7)  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Like wearing God down

Matthew 6:8 KJV  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Go knows what you need.

Matthew 6:9-15 KJV  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (11)  Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.  (14)  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  (15)  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

What has the church done with this prayer? Have they not turned it into vain repetition?

Model prayer

It isn't Jesus' prayer. Forgive us our sins....Jesus had no sin. It is not His prayer. It is a model prayer.

When you pray.......

Our Father - Some say if you knew my father you would know why I have problems with this. God is a good father. He likes to hear from us.

Which art in heaven - There is a life after this life to come.

Hallowed - holy be thy name - Look how much His name is blasphemed. His name is holy. We need to treat God's name as holy, as different.
The Jews had a concept of this.  As they copied the Old Testament manuscripts, instead of writing out the actual name, Yahweh, they felt they were too unclean to be able to even mention let alone write God's name, and so they would write the consonants of "Yahweh", but they would pronounce "Adonai", or, "Lord".
Though I don't think we ought to be afraid of saying God's name, I think we could use a little more awe and reverence towards God's name.

Thy kingdom come - He has a kingdom. It will one day be established on this earth. We will rule with Him. The Lord is coming.

The ancient Jews used to say: "He prays not at all, in whose prayers there is no mention of the kingdom of God."

Thy will be done as it is on Heaven so on the earth - LORDSHIP. Not my will. Christ to reign. God wants Lordship of our lives. Let Him rule. He is a loving father.

Give us day by day daily bread - God will provide. God is faithful. God will take care of His people. Not weekly, monthly, yearly..... DAILY bread. Daily dependence on God. Day by Day.

Philippians 4:6-7 KJV  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  (7)  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God’s remedy for our anxiety is prayer.  If I worry a lot, I need to learn to pray a
lot.  I need to learn to put these
requests into God’s hands.

Forgive us our sins. We forgive everyone indebted to us - You are forgiven. Walk in Him. Blood of Jesus cleanses from ALL sin. Those who sinned against us ...... Anger, depression, bitterness..... extend forgiveness. Let it go. God will bring healing. Want a healthy walk with God? Forgive those who sinned against you.

Lead us not into Temptation. Deliver us from evil. - Ask God to help you.

Luke 11:5-7 KJV  And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;  (6)  For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?  (7)  And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

To fail to entertain a guest was a disgrace to a family.

Luke 11:8 KJV  I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

Keeps knocking

Luke 11:9-10 KJV  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  (10)  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

What an encouragement to pray.
You will get an answer
Sometimes the answer is "yes". Sometimes the answer is "no". Sometimes the answer is "wait". But one way or another, you will get an answer.
This is all still under the context of learning to pray for God's will to be done.

If I am persistent in asking for the things that God wants, the answer to my prayers will be "yes".
If I am asking for something God doesn't want for me, He will let me know my answer is "no".
If I am asking for the right thing, but God knows that it is not yet the right time, my answer is "wait".

The Bible says that our prayers are like incense rising before God.

(Rev 8:3-4 KJV)  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. {4} And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

I think this is a great picture.  I think that sometimes our prayers are answered (the bowl being poured out) because the bowl in heaven for that request isn't filled yet.  I think that perhaps some requests have bigger bowls than others.  Fill up the bowl.
I think it is also very possible that we may not be receiving all that God wants for us because we have stopped asking.

James has told us:
(James 4:2b KJV)  …yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Keep asking.

1 John 5:14 KJV  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

According to His will. God knows what we need.

Luke 11:11 KJV  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

Will you give Him a stone ... NO
Will you give a serpent .....NO

Luke 11:12-13 KJV  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  (13)  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

How much more will God bless you.

God bless you and draw you ever closer to Him.