“Where there is no vision, the people perish …” Pro.29:18

A vision is a dream, a divine idea or a revelation from God concerning a man’s future. The main essence of man’s existence is to have something he is living for and pursuing on a daily basis: a vision. A man without vision is one who lacks direction, sees progress in life as a challenge and he always ends up frustrated.

If we are all living for something, it will be for our own good. The future will become clearer and we will be filled with hope to attend to our everyday challenges. No matter what is happening to him presently, a man with a God-given vision is never bothered because there is a picture he is carrying about that no one else is sseing but himself. Vision has a lot of benefits that comes with it and a man that has one will always be a beneficiary.

Have you ever heard that, “a man who has soemthing to live for never dies?” If you have not, please read the story of Simeon in Luke2:25-29. Vision keeps people alive even if they are right off medically. There are stories of several people that battled death to a stand still just because they have something to live for. Vision also gives meaning to life. Just because you are in a place you know you were not meant to be, will not make your life worthless if you have a vision. You will understand that where you are going is better than where you are and you are only in such a position for a while. Even when others have lost hope, yours will be increasing with each passing day. When others are giving up, you are moving on.

Another importance of vision is that it bring discipline into our lives. People with vision and those without one are miles apart. If you have a vision, you will never waste your time on things that do not matter, you will always do something that will contribute to where you are going everyday. You will understand the value of time and the type of people you hang out with. Everyday when an antelope wakes up, it knows it has to outrun the fastest lion if it has to survive the day and the lion wakes up knowing fully well that if it doesn’t run faster than the fastest antelope, hunger will be his lot for the day. This is the discipline that vision enforces on those who have vision. They just know they have to do something everyday to get to where they are going.

There is no way that you will have a vison that you won’t get to your destination. This is IMPOSSIBLE! The life you will live after you have reached your destination will be far enjoyable than if you have no vision. The vision you have now, will determine where you will be in 5 or 10 years times. I learnt that we take more time in planning our wardrobe, parties and all other smaller things than we plan our future! This is incredible but TRUE! People can deliberate for hours on how they are going to dress to a party but rarely spend minutes to plan for their future! The main reason majority of us look to the future with fear rather than hope is because we have not taken time to plan our future. A visionless future will always be trepidating.

“The world stand aside to let those pass, who know where they are going.” Do you know know where you are going? Do you have a plan for the next five years of your life? If the next five years comes, providing Jesus tarries, will you be happy with where you find yourself?

If you have never asked yourself where you want to be in years to come, there is no better time than now. Ask God to help you in reaching for a destination. He is always ready to reveal our future to us if only we can ask Him, Jer.33:3. I asked Him what he want me to do several years ago and he didn’t fail me so He will NEVER fail you if you can but ASK!

Let me end with these wonderful quotes: “Life means little without purpose. Once his life aim is gone, man simply exists - he does not really live.

“Aspiration is the hand that points us the road that runs heavenward. As your vision is, so will your life be.”

“When people have not decided their destination in life, any road can take them there. if you are not sure where you are going, then any road will take you there. determine where you want to go and be determined NOTHING will ever stop you from getting there!”

This is to your success.

Adebola Oni

Adebola Oni is the Author of “The Lessons Of Life”. So many lives have been touched by his newsletter, Life Lessons Digest. You can have a copy delivered to you every week by visiting his website: The Lessons Of Life

Determine what these three items have in common.

1. Cornerstone, First fruits, Bright Morning Star

2. Tola, Abdom, Deborah

3. Miriam, 9 ungrateful people, Naaman

4. Bath, Cab, Ephah

5. Furlong, Pace, Reed

6. Quadrans, Didrachma, Mitre

7. Mirror, Water, Sword

8. Zechariah, 2 witnesses, James

9. Olives, Carmel, Nebo

10. Og, Shesai, Anak

11. Wave, Isaac, our Bodies

12. A tile, Two sisters, the Ewe lamb

13. Coin, Kish’s asses, thy Brother

14. A pearl, Mustard seed, Leaven

15. Unleavened bread, Swaddling clothes, Twelve stones

16. Abimelech, Samson, Judas Iscariot

17. Wind, Dove, Oil

18. Box, Palm, Pistachio

19. Korah, Balaam, Ziba

20. God’s Word, Treasure, Leaven

21. Acts, Maher-shalal-hash-baz, The flood

22. Joseph, Daniel, a Psalmist

23. Written on by God, a Pillow, Used to kill

24. Revelation, Malachi, Amen

25. Euphrates, Nile, Jordan

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Everyone can use support in some area of his or her life. Some
people are at a point where they truly need significant support
and others may only have the desire for a lighter amount of
support.

A support group encompasses a specific category where people can
meet and either discuss issues or receive the benefits of a
serving team. One support group might be for single mothers to
share their feelings and emotions of their days, another support
group could be for business owners to network and share ideas. A
third type of contact could be where someone of need receives
specific help such as a food bank or automotive repair ministry
or alcohol/drug dependence support.

The successful connection in support is made when someone’s
daily life is impacted positively in Christ’s name. The
advantage of this type of connection is that it heals precisely
where the recipient is hurting.

“Stop and smell the roses,” people often say. Then they smile ruefully, because everybody knows there isn’t enough TIME to stop or, as my daughter says, to “chill.”

This is the Conventional Wisdom - and I’m here to tell you that the CW is simply WRONG. Researchers in Positive Psychology find that people actually get more done if they take time out to SAVOR their day. Not only that, but, over time, people who set aside a few hours every week are likely to be healthier, more relaxed, and better able to cope with the stresses of everyday life.

Why not try it? Give yourself the gift of Savoring. (Hey, stress is all you have to lose!)

To start, make a list of 10 things you REALLY enjoy doing, whether or not you’ve made time for them lately. I’m talking about stuff that gives you real pleasure. They may be things you do alone, or with one other person, or with a group. Look over the list, and see if one thing says “pick me.” Choose one of those activities that you enjoy.

Now: Take out your calendar, and SOME TIME IN THE NEXT MONTH, block out at least a 2-hour period that is JUST FOR YOU. Half a day is better. A whole day is best of all. Do whatever is needed to make that time free. Ask a neighbor to baby-sit. Tell your spouse you’ll be busy. Say “no” to the half-dozen requests that will almost certainly challenge your Savoring Time .

And when Your Day comes . . . GO FOR IT, whether you’re making a picture, walking in the woods, going to a movie, or just sitting still. What matters is that you’re doing something you really enjoy.

These tricks will help you get the most out of your day:

•Give yourself permission - this is Your Day. It is absolutely 100% okay for you to be taking this time. When kill-joy thinking comes along (and it will), play with it. Pretend it’s a stick floating in a stream, and just let it drift away.
•Leave your cel phone at home, or at least turned off. You’re busy savoring, remember?
•Keep the day alive - collect a souvenir or take mental photographs to help you hold on to this special time.
•Tell the story - Share your experience with a friend or partner - the joy that’s shared multiples by ten.
•Write it down. Read it over as a reminder in a few days or weeks.

When your Savoring time is over, celebrate! Pat yourself on the back for challenging the Conventional Wisdom. And, while you’re at it, why not take out your calendar and make another date for Savoring Your Day?

(c) M. Killoran, 2004

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Maureen is a certified Authentic Happiness Life Coach and Unitarian minister. Her passion is helping mid-life women and couples achieve lives of meaning and creativity, through her coaching practice, SpiritQuest LLC. She offers workshops, coaching, rites of passage, e-courses, a free monthly e-zine, and more — check out her website www.spiritquest.ws

CHOOSING G-D

At sunset on the eve of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, G-d**
will remove some of his light from the world. He will still
remain present in a basic way, of course, or the world could not
sustain itself. But that presence will be remote, withdrawn.

Then He will wait. The next move is ours.

At around midday of the holy day, when Jews in every corner of
the world acknowledge His sovereignty with prayers and the
blowing of the shofar, G-d will once again agree to be our King.
He will recommit to His relationship with our world. And when He
does so, it will be with an entirely new level of light and
power. Entirely new possibilities - possibilities that never
existed before - will enter the world. We will advance one giant
step closer to our ultimate destiny.

But the first move has to come from us. We must renew our
contract with our Creator if the world is to continue to exist.

Once each year, the world must choose G-d.

FROM TEARS TO TRANSFORMATION

Why the blowing of the shofar, the ram’s horn? What power does
this primitive instrument have to bring down such an intense and
essential light?

More than a simple horn, the shofar is an instrument of
transformation. Its sound is like a heartbroken cry, and its
power is the power of tears.

Living in a physical world, subject to the many stresses and
challenges of life on earth and subjugated to the relentless
demands of our body and our ego, we are not even remotely aware
of our own true potential. Our soul, with all of its unlimited
awareness, insight, creativity, love and power, is trapped and
suppressed.

But when our defenses break down, when we come face to face with
our essential smallness and vulnerability within this vast
universe, we cry out to G-d.

And this cry - this intense awareness of our own limitations -
is what sets us free. A broken-hearted cry can release your soul
from its prison and leave you open to something completely new.

This freedom, not coincidentally, is also connected with the
trumpet-blast of the shofar. In fact, it is the blast of ‘the
great shofar’ - the shofar of Redemption - that will herald our
ultimate freedom and transformation at the End of Days.

Weakness and power. Smallness and greatness. Isolation and
Unity. Slavery and freedom. How do they go together? And how is
it that the very same sound can symbolize both?

A WORLD OF OPPOSITES

Kabbbalah explains that everything that exists is made up of two
polar opposites. The opposite of darkness is light. The opposite
of evil is good. The opposite of death is life. The opposite of
slavery is freedom. Wherever one is found, so is its opposite.
They define each other. Without one, the other could not exist.

However, these negative states have no intrinsic reality.
Darkness is not a permanent condition. Just like the first step
in throwing a ball is to move the arm backwards, the darkness is
actually a prelude, a gateway, to a far more powerful light.

That’s why tears can be so transformational. Paradoxically, it
is only in realizing our smallness, weakness and aloneness - the
limits of our ego-based existence - that we create an opening to
expand beyond our perceived limits and become who we were truly
born to be.

This possibility for transformation is intensely present on Rosh
Hashana, when the world begins anew.

ON THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW WORLD

On this Rosh Hashana, in the year 5766, transformation is not
only more possible but more necessary than ever before, not only
for Jews but for the entire world.

Every year on Rosh Hashana the world waits, suspended in the
dark space between the old light and the new. Between two ways
of being there is always an empty space, a space of transition.
In this space we have the opportunity to let go of the old - the
pettiness, the resentments, the past mistakes, failures and
fears. We can embrace a brand new way of being; a more
passionate sense of purpose. We can commit ourselves to a new
level of kindness, respect and compassion for the people around
us - those we already love, and those we could love if we
stopped being angry or afraid.

In opening ourselves to life, we create the greatest possible
opening for G-d to inscribe us in the Book of Life for a year
that is good and sweet in the truest sense.

But on this Rosh Hashana the world waits at the threshold of
Redemption. In these unprecedented times an intense level of
darkness hovers over the earth. Our world is shaking. Terror,
war, mind-numbing natural disasters and crisis in the Middle
East cast a threatening shadow over our lives. These times are
frightening and challenging. But this darkness is nothing more
or less than the gateway to an entirely new level of light - a
new reality.

OUR TIMES IN ANCIENT PROPHECY

These chaotic times were foreseen in great detail millennia ago
by the sages of biblical times. A full discussion of these
prophecies is way beyond the scope of this article. But read the
words below and see whether or not you think they describe our
world today:

Insolence and self-centeredness will increase, there will be
oppressing inflation, people will be addicted to the good life
and the costs will be high, moral standards will dissolve,
morality and wisdom will be denigrated, there will be unbridled
irresponsibility on the part of authorities, centers of learning
will turn into centers of immorality, poverty will increase, the
young will denigrate the old, families will disintegrate,
leadership will be impudent. The world will see a succession of
troubles, epidemics of terrible diseases, and international
confrontations. The face of the generation will be ‘like the
face of a dog’. Just as dogs are not embarrassed by anything
they do, so too people will lose their sense of embarrassment.

THE GREATER THE DARKNESS, THE GREATER THE LIGHT

Against this challenging, chaotic backdrop, we are being called
upon to expand beyond our boundaries, to strengthen our
relationship with our Creator and to actualize our own potential
as partners in Creation.

We are living through the time of transition between exile and
Redemption. Out of the breakdown of the old and unworkable, we
have the opportunity to create something completely new.

In fact, it is our destiny.

ROSH HASHANA: IT’S YOUR CHOICE

This Rosh Hashana each one of us has a choice. We can choose to
stay unconscious, trapped within the prison of our fears,
confusion, resentments and longings, remaining passive victims
of circumstance. Or we can use this opportunity to begin to fly.
To align ourselves with our destiny. To learn to be free.

Freedom is a lofty concept, but it’s lived in the choices you
make each moment. In your relationships. In your spirituality.
In your commitment to a life of joy and fulfillment. In your
awareness of G-d’s nurturing presence in the intimate details of
your daily life. In remembering that you’re here for a purpose
and being willing to do something each day to make that purpose
come alive.

If you could create a new future, one not based on your fears
and past failures, who would you be? How would you behave? What
would you dare to create? Who would you thank? Who would you
listen to and what would you share? What would you do to enhance
your connection to G-d and your own essence? What part of you
that you’ve given up on would you start to nurture? What dreams
might you make come true?

Rosh Hashana holds within it an awesome power. The light of the
past is withdrawn and the light of the future has yet to come
down into the world and into your life. The Book is open. What
will you choose?

© Shifra Hendrie www.KabbalahOfTransformation.com

**Since the Torah forbids the erasing of G-d’s name, it’s
customary to avoid writing it out in full

We want to hear from God so that we may be led to pursue the
right things. Unfortunately, there are always three voices in
every ones head at any given time; God’s voice, the devil’s
voice, and the voice of our own flesh. So, how are we to be sure
to hear from God with all the noise going on?

It really is very simple. If we want to hear from God, we need to
shut up the other two. So, how do we do that?

First of all, the devil is easy to shut up. Psalm 22:3 says, “But
thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”
Satan will have to flee when we begin praising God because the
Lord inhabits the praises of His people. The devil is not gonna
stick around while you shout “Hallalujah” to the Lord.

Just shout out your praise to God. Praise Him for who He is,
praise Him for what He has done, praise Him for His promises, and
praise Him because He deserves it. As you are praising God, you
will not hear from the devil.

Our flesh is the more difficult to control because it never can
get enough and is never satisfied. It is also the most difficult
to control because it is extremely self-centered. Even still,
Jesus said, “Deny yourself and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

Your flesh doesn’t want to follow Jesus. That would mean having
to give up many things. It doesn’t matter. We are to crucify the
flesh. (Galatians 2:20) It is a decision.

When you quiet the evil twins, the devil and your own flesh, it
is much easier to hear from God. Now, that does not mean you will
hear an audible voice, although you may, but not likely.

God speaks in many different ways. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my
voice and they follow me.” (John 10:27) Clearly, before we can
know God’s voice, we must be like sheep. What are sheep? Only the
dumbest animals on the face of the earth. We must become like
dumb animals, knowing nothing, in and of ourselves. Being
completely dependant upon God. This goes back to crucifying the
flesh.

You can hear from God, and you should. It could be something from
His written Word (logos). It could be His audible voice (rhema).
You can also get His rhema Word spoken through a friend. Or, it
can be nature, convictions, open and shut doors of opportunity,
and the most likely, internal peace.

One way you will not hear from God is through your emotions.
Emotions are dangerous ground because they are never consistent.
They’re up one minute and down the next. You can’t make important
decisions based on something so erratic.

Many times, you will not get a definite answer on something
specific. The Bible tells us that we are to live our lives by
faith. We are to step out and try things that we feel God is
leading us to do. Maybe this will work, maybe that will work. We
just have to step out see. “In the morning sow your seed…For you
do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether
both alike will be good.” (Ecc 6:11)

One thing is for sure, “The steps of a good man are ordered by
the Lord.” (Psalm 37:23) Trust God for direction as you take a
step of faith toward what you feel He is calling you to. He will
let you know whether it is really Him or not.

About the Author

Daniel N. Brown is the publisher of the “Living the Abundant and
Prosperous Christian Life” Newsletter. A free weekly publication
that teaches how to live the abundant and prosperous Christian
life. Receieve a free copy of Dan’s 14 page report entitled, “5
Biblical Keys to Outrageous Prosperity,” when you sign up.
www.secretplaceonline.com/newsletter

Below are excerpts from a discussion with a brother in the
Sabbath-keeping Church of God:

It is interesting how God uses Duality in the scriptures, but
isn’t it always true that the “physical” type always precedes
the “spiritual” fulfillment?

That’s true, but are you denying the “Elijah” prophecy has been
relevant more than once? By your human reasonings it could’ve
only been used once, the “Elijah” of John the Baptist only,
which our critics contend, and Mr. Armstrong or the Two
Witnesses (the leader of the two) couldn’t be “in the spirit and
power of Elijah.”

You would again be limiting how layered the prophecies of God
can be when Antiochus Epiphanes defiled the Temple and later in
the Ephesus era the great apostasy began and culminated in a
pagan pope pretending to be God, yet you don’t deny that such an
evil attitude, a polluted person hasn’t defiled God’s Church in
these latter days, so why would you try and deny that there
can’t be a Temple with Europe’s wannabe divine emperor
proclaiming himself God? I say DUALITY can be as often as God
chooses it to be applicable and the prophecies clearly show it’s
happened time and again.

I confess, I do not know what God wants physical Israel to do
now.

I confess I do: “Remember the Law of Moses” (Malachi 4:4). God
restored Judah to the Land, liberated Jerusalem and expects them
to follow through with their divine duty to build God’s House
upon His Temple Mount.

I do know what Stephen said to the Jews in the book of Acts:

Act 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made
with hands; as saith the prophet

Who said He did? I do know you need to remember CONTEXT. He was
speaking to that generation who had literally seen and rejected
Yashua, “God with us.”

Have you forgotten that Yashua called the Temple “My Father’s
House?” That it was only after THAT GENERATION rejected Him that
God rejected, for the most part, THAT GENERATION?

Did God dwell within “God’s House,” Ambassador Auditorium? Have
you missed where Jesus made clear reference to the Temple,
speaking against those who would be where they ought not?
trespassing in the MOST HOLY PLACE? Some professing Christians
would say there’s no such place, that the Church is the only
“holy place” and important “Temple” and they would be dead
wrong! Blind to duality and the God-ordained role for the
physical and the spiritual, each important to God.

Have you forgotten Solomon’s dedication prayer at the Temple God
ordained him to build?

1 Kings 8:27-29

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and
the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this
temple which I have built! 28 Yet regard the prayer of Your
servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the
cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You
today: 29 that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night
and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name
shall be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant
makes toward this place.

The true servants of God have always known that the House of
God, the Temple of God, is merely like an “Embassy of the
Eternal” as I refer to it within Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and
Fall. And, as such, it deserves our respect and honor as
is due, even as Daniel continued to face Jerusalem in his
prayers, turned purposely towards the Temple Mount.

What has a Temple to do with us who are the Temple of
God????

Are you no longer a physical Israelite now that you’ve become a
spiritual Jew? Are you no longer a man because spiritually in
Christ we’re neither male or female, Gentile or Israelite? Paul
was a physical Israelite and a spiritual Jew and didn’t forget
it! He went out of his way to go up to Jerusalem, according to
the Law, to keep the biblical festivals at the Temple! Do you
deny this? Read the Book of Acts and see for yourself, and see
what a great difference in attitude the early Church had towards
fellowshipping and worshipping in the physical Temple! They
didn’t consider themselves so superior and spiritual that they
shunned it!

If you’re part of the Temple of God then you should rejoice that
God has been faithful to physical Israel and Judah, and rejoice
that Judah is prophesied to remember the Law of Moses (that will
bring them this time to Messiah, since God will soon lift the
blindness as He has prophesied) and repent of their woeful
neglect of the Temple Mount that is presently under a
Nazi-Muslim occupation, a disgrace to the God of Jacob and a
shame for us (physical Israelites and Jews).

What physical Israel does will be God’s will but He has shown
us nothing in His word that would indicate that we should
rebuild a temple devoted to physical sacrifices before He comes
again.

I never said the Church is supposed to build the Temple. It’s a
great start if God’s Church would at least recognize that God
has given this biblical responsibility to our Jewish brethren,
to the NATION of Israel, but I would hope that we would at
least, in attitude if not in actions, support such a holy
endeavor. It’s sad and interesting, quite telling, most
revealing, that such an uproar never occurred when Mr. Armstrong
taught THERE IS A PHYSICAL PREPARATION FOR THE COMING OF A
MESSIAH, as well as a spiritual! Where were all the “spiritual”
brethren hiding out when Mr. Armstrong was excited about the
City of David archaeological digs in Jerusalem, Israel in
cooperation with Hebrew University? Where was the outcry about
that’s none of our business, we’re past that now since we’re so
spiritual?

God’s Word calls for the NATION (I never said the Church) to
build His House of Prayer for All Peoples, and Jesus said He did
not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets - that command is
still in effect since His generation of Jews were punished with
Jerusalem and the Temple’s destruction and their dispersion, but
this is a NEW GENERATION, a generation of Jews who are
prophesied to welcome King Messiah, for Yashua said He wouldn’t
return and the Jews and Jerusalem wouldn’t see Him again until
they had this change of heart and attitude that’s coming, the
Temple is part of it, saying “Blessed is He who comes in the
Name of the Lord!” JESUS CHRIST IS FOCUSED ON JERUSALEM AND HIS
PHYSICAL BRETHREN THE JEWS, while working simultaneously with
the Church. But mind you that we’re going to Jerusalem! They’re
not coming over here or to any of the many Church headquarters -
but to JERUSALEM! I guess that physical location is still
important to God and it should be to those who claim to belong
to Him.

You know it is a dangerous thing to get ahead of God in a
thing. Zionism has to do with God bringing His people back to
their land and God rebuilding their Temple and God ruling over
the entire world, NOT Judah!

Read your Bible again and see how God brings Judah back and
works with them once they’re back in the Land, and that God
brings them back through people, human instruments, not on a
magic carpet, and that God build His Temple through His Jewish
hands, just like He always has, since God is consistent. And in
the World Tomorrow, converted Judah will be the leader as God
has ordained under the Kingdom-Family of God.

The New Covenant will be made available to physical Israel
when God is ready but it is available to us RIGHT NOW!

In principle, but it will not take full effect until the
Resurrection to perfection, when God’s LAW is truly written upon
the tablets of our hearts and minds forever.

No Temple built today will carry over into the new world in
any case. The destruction will be far to great for that.

There isn’t any mention of the Third Temple (that God reveals in
Revelation 11:1) being destroyed. Malachi gives every indication
it will be standing and in need of cleansing and a purification
of the priesthood, which Christ NEVER did when He came before.
Think about that, and don’t try and spiritualize away the
Levites and sacrifices and all, because the Church will have
already been made ready, as the spiritual Temple, for Christ’s
coming! Malachi shows the Messiah - who is more than a man -
comes to HIS Temple! Again, God claims the physical Temple as
His own.

If the Jews build a new Temple what design do you think they
will use? Solomon or the description in Ezekiel?

They’ll use everything God inspires them to, as God has given
this responsibility into their hands, not the fickle and
Gentilized Israelites. They’ll prayerfully take everything into
consideration and get it right, and God puts His seal of
approval on it since He refers to it as the “Temple of GOD.”

Interesting. If the sacrifices could be made without a temple
why aren’t the Jews doing so?

For the same reason they haven’t built the Temple YET. The Feast
of Tabernacles is over and the traditional books to read are
Ezra and Nehemiah. I encourage all to read them. They reveal the
sacrifices were restored BEFORE the foundation of the Temple was
laid!

Christ told the Samarian women that we would no longer be
looking to a physical place of worship but we would Worship the
Lord in Spirit and TRUTH.

He was making a point and not disrespecting the most holy place
on Earth, the Temple Mount, especially since HE is the God who
said that place ALONE is where He would place His Name and have
HIS House! God doesn’t contradict Himself. Jesus also said
“salvation is of the Jews and we know who we worship,” and all
the Jews knew they could pray anywhere, as the NT reveals they
prayed in places other than the Temple, but for OFFICIAL
NATIONAL WORSHIP they gladly met where God had placed His Name:
the Temple Mount.

Please note that in answer to the direct question about WHERE
she should worship God Christ, in essence, told her it did not
matter. We would worship God in Spirit and did not need a place
to do so.

If you’re worshipping God in spirit and in truth, “thy Word is
Truth” and the Word of God reveals that Christ will command all
nations to come up to Jerusalem, to worship the King of Israel,
and learn Torah at THE TEMPLE! Maybe Jesus just doesn’t get it
and isn’t as spiritual as some think they are!

Again, I said it would be great for God’s Church to at least
recognize that God has commanded ISRAEL to build the Temple, but
hopefully God’s Church would have this same holy and excited
attitude:

Isaiah 2:2-3

2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the
[Temple] mountain of the LORD’s house Shall be established on
the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and
say,

” Come, and let us go up to the [Temple] mountain of the LORD,
To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And
we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the
law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Please remember that the reason given for doing that, David,
was to try and stop the Jews from killing him. (Paul’s
literal sacrifice at the Temple with other Jews)

May you refresh your memory and read it again and see that was
not the reason! His reason, listening to the Jewish Church
elders, was to PROVE that he still kept the Law and the Jewish
customs, unlike all the lies against him were saying.

I do not care if the temple is rebuilt.

That is a casual attitude that is most selfish. We should hope
and pray the Jews repent of their woeful neglect of the Temple
Mount and build the Temple since God has commanded THEM to do
so. Are you only concerned about yourself and not our nation and
peoples?

You seem to be blending them in some way I do not find in the
bible.

Ever heard of Paul the Benjaminite?

We have God’s Holy Spirit within us. He is Tabernacling with
us even now, David. This is not something national Israel has
available.

The Law and the Prophets prove otherwise. Our Israelite and
Jewish brethren are sanctified as the children of Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob and God’s spirit in times past was only in our
prophets, but through them was in and with the NATION. Besides,
holy men and women filled with the Holy Spirit loved the holy
Temple!

A physical temple is not something God’s church should be
involved with at all, in this age.

But teaching English to Thai people is? Or buying gifts of
Steuben crystal for world leaders or being involved in other
different physical projects? What a corner-Church mentality that
I would hope God’s people would break free from who haven’t
already!

Again, God has commanded ISRAEL to build His Temple and I’m
excited they soon will, and I would hope the Church would at
least encourage them to obey God as they’re given to understand
Him at this point in time - not carp from the sidelines like
those evil men you’ll encounter (who opposed God’s Work in Judah
and Jerusalem) in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Those who truly are Children of Light will see and recognize the
fulfillment of prophecy taking place, recognizing the Temple as
a magnificent SIGN of how close we are to the Two Witnesses’
worldwide ministry from Jerusalem, with a special message to the
cities of Judah, and rejoice knowing King Messiah is on His way!

Charity isn’t the easiest virtue to master. And with St. Paul’s warning that our good works mean nothing without charity, we see how important it is to practice. Here’s a few practical ways to install charity into every day life.

Give to people what they want, not what you think is best. We’ve all said it- “If I give him money, he’ll just spend it on alcohol or drugs.” Give your gifts unconditionally, and don’t worry about how someone else will use them. As long as there’s no evil in the gift itself, the way it’s used isn’t on your shoulders. Besides, most of us use this as an excuse to give nothing at all.

Pick out one thing every day to do something special for someone. Not something you already do. Something new and extra. And do it quietly. Mt:6:3:3 “But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.”

Say five Hail Mary’s every day for someone you don’t like. Pray for their general well being…not for them to change or leave you alone. “Oh Lord, let this man see his evil ways, and turn to You” isn’t a charitable prayer at all.

Ask yourself before you go to bed if you’re holding any grudges. If you are, then stop. Charity is impossible without mercy. Push your anger towards someone to the back of your heart and let it suffocate. Don’t allow yourself to fantasize about revenge, and pray for them.

When you can’t feel it, fake it. Charity won’t always overwhelm you with feel good emotions. Sometimes doing the right thing is difficult. So put your feelings aside and forge ahead. If you have a hard time caring about someone, just treat them as you would want to be treated.

About the Author

Written by the copywriters at http://copyforsale.com, where you can find free content for your Christian newsletters and websites.

Many examples of the land and its creatures represented gods, or
akua to the Hawaiian. The tree, plants, stones, animals, and
human beings were just a few examples, each akua had a special
name with certain attributes.

The four great gods of the Polynesian system were Ku, Kane,
Kanaloa, and Lono; each possessing particular powers and duties.

Ku - architect and builder

Ku was the great god presiding over war. Human sacrifices were
made to him in temples built to honor Ku. His worship days, four
in succession, occurred at the start of the moon month. The
temples of Ku were built to certain specifications and presided
over by a distinct cult of priests.

Kane - creator and giver of life

With the aid of Lono, Kane created man. Kane created the forests
and brought certain rains and life to the land. Kane was the
healer who resided in many of the healing plants. He had his own
temples and priests. Depending on the attributes or purposes,
Kane was known by many names.

Lono - god of agriculture and peace

Lono may have been the most beloved of the great gods. His
presence was seen in the rain clouds and in growing things. The
householder dedicated his family worship, making daily offerings
to Lono. The farmer would dedicate his first fruits to Lono.

Kanaloa - god of the great ocean and all within

In Tahitian theology, Kanaloa was the creator of the universe
and man. By the time the Polynesians came to Hawaii he had been
overthrown and was “brother” to Kane.

When Christianity came to Hawaii and the Hawaiians attempted to
“fit” their beliefs into the “new” religion, Kanaloa was
expelled from heaven and became the devil.

The Hawaiians worshipped thousands of other demigods and lesser
gods, such as Pele and her family. Pele of the volcano was an
earthbound goddess who could take on may transformations as a
woman and who was bound by certain powers and limitations in
each transformation.

Worship of each god in old Hawaii was a religion based on a
system. Only a priest could interpret the actions of the gods.
>From this grew a theology with prayers and ceremonies which were
performed in the temples.

Related Internet Resources:

http://aloha.150m.com/hoomana.htm

“They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the
desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into
their soul.” Ps. 106:13-15

I have long enjoyed reading the one hundredth and sixth chapter
of the book of Psalms where David chronicled the Israel’s past,
creating, if you will, his own history book. But I failed to
realize the Biblical reason for keeping a record of a Nation’s
or an individual’s past. Paul explained that “whatsoever things
were written aforetime were written for our learning.” (Rom.
15:4) God wants mankind to learn from our mistakes that we may
“cease to do evil; learn to do well.” (Isa. 1:16,17) Here in
Psalms 106 we find example after example of things we may cease
from doing. One such illustration is found in our text for
today. Verse 15 is a startling reminder that though we seek
after something with all of our earthly heart, once given this
assumed blessing by the hand of God, it might be the very thing
that takes us from that oneness walk with the one true God.

Israel had eaten manna until they were sick of it, they could
not stand to gather it day after day. Even though they feasted
on the food of angles, their human appetite was never satisfied.
They began murmuring against the man of God, and against God
himself saying, “Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well
with us in Egypt.” (Num. 11:18) They cried against the God of
Heaven, the Lord of their salvation, they mocked him saying,
“Why came we forth out of Egypt?” (Num. 11:20) Therefore he
abhorred them and gave them that which they wanted; but fleshly
satisfaction does not come without a price! They ate the flesh
of fowl until it came forth from their nostrils, until they
could not stand the site of it, but the recompense was not over.
They not only suffered physically, but the Lord Jehovah “sent
leanness into their soul.” They could not be content with what
the Lord provided, they wanted what they had back in Egypt. In
Egypt they might have been slaves. In Egypt they might have been
beaten, but at least, they reasoned, they had flesh to eat and
wine to drink. But here, in the wilderness, what did they have?
Water from rocks and bread that fell as dew from Heaven. Their
continual cries came before God and he gave them the desires of
their heart. But you see, their heart did not desire the things
of God, but what they had back in the land of bondage. However,
though they feasted on the lust of their heart, their souls
languished on the memories of glory days gone by.

“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight
is his delight.” (Pro. 11:1) God’s word declares that if one man
increases another must decrease. Jesus’ ministry could not begin
until John’s decreased so much that he died. Therefore the
Biblical precedent had been set, the fleshly man cannot increase
without the spirit man decreasing. If your flesh feasts . . .
your soul must famish. It is a law of God.

In our everyday lives we fight and, by the everlasting mercies
of God, we must win this battle of flesh and spirit. “For the
flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye
cannot do the things that ye would.” (Gal. 5:17) We are
commanded to “Love not the world, neither the things that are in
the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is
not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the
Father, but is of the world.” (I John 2:15-16) Therefore, let us
learn from the mistakes of the past and remember always that
though God “gave them their request” he also “sent leanness into
their soul.”