The Peregrinnatti - YHVH's Minstrels

We're Moving to...

2011-05-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers and Followers of The Peregrinnatti - YHVH'S Minstrels blog,

Several exciting changes are coming about for the ministry of The Peregrinnatti!
Steve and I will be sharing these changes with you as they unfold. For now we want to share with you our move from Blogger to Word Press. This will be our last posting on Blogger.com. You can keep up with our thoughts, activities and insights at: http://www.harpandstory.wordpress.com/ which leads to another change for us; we are changing our website from biblicalstoryteller.com to http://www.harpandstory.com/. It is still under construction, but we are excited about the changes and additions to this new website. Come visit, give us feedback, we appreciate your encouragement and support!

A new update was just posted today, May 26, at http://www.harpandstory.wordpress.com/ titled "Going 'Round the Mountain, Again?"
There are options on the blog page to become an email subscriber or to continue with RSS; lots of options for sharing and following. Come on and join us as we continue this great adventure together!

May YHVH bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you!
Because of HIM,
Steve and Shirley

Outside Clean! Inside, Clean Also?

2011-04-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

More and more these days I find myself biting my tongue because of these words running through my mind. "Are you sure you want to say that?"
When I bust through that protective barrier and blurt out what I am thinking I often find that I would have been better off if I had heeded the warning and resisted speaking those words.
It is one thing to resist making comments that could end up causing another pain, words that you could come to regret, judgments made that you may wish you could rescind, opinions offered that may become invalid; it is another thing entirely to let the emotion go that is often associated with those thoughts. Maybe I heed the warning and keep those words to myself, but are my insides tensing, are my hands clenched, is my jaw tight, am I seething under the surface with unspoken resentment, anger, jealousy, bitterness, judgment, cursing, malice, vindictiveness?
My ouside demeanor may remain calm and poised, but what about my inside? Yashua said to the Pharisees, "woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but within they are full of extortation and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also."
Are we like the little boy who was told by his father to sit down and be quiet when he obviously had an opinion he wanted to share. His response to his father was, "okay, I'll sit down and be quiet, but I'm standing up on the inside!"
How do we get to the place where our inside and our outside match? Yahsua said the world would know that we are His disciples by the love we have for one another. This kind of love that is a witness to the world of the One we honor and obey is an "inside/outside clean cup love. Another way to say is that our words and our actions match our heart.
James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to YHVH. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
If we heed the warning, "are you sure you want to say that," and we hold our tongue we are submitting ourself to YHVH; the first part of the admonition of James is accomplished! But there is more, the resisting the devil part. To resist the devil is to let the emotion that is encircling the words running through our heads go with the warning, "are you sure you want to say that?" If we do then the promise of James 4:7 will be ours; and he, the devil, will flee from you.
I know I am not alone in this, as Steve and I travel from place to place visiting fellowships across the country there is a repeated pattern that is becoming all to familiar. We may hold our tongue from Lashon Hara, the outside of our cup may be sparkling clean, but the evidence points to the fact that the inside is under heavy attack. Not being able or not chosing to let our negative emotions come into submission allows the devil to have easy access into our marriage, our children our friends our fellowship. He is not fleeing because we are not resisting the need to nurse our emotions of anger or resentment or hate or jealousy or strife or contentions or rejection or...and the list goes on. If the Father in His love and mercy gives you a warning, "are you sure you want to say that?" and we refrain from verbally saying what is on our mind, but we carry on with the conversation in our inward parts indulging in anger or resentment or any other negative emotion, then we have not won the battle; the enemy has not been resisted and he has not fled from us.
I believe true submission is always to The Father. It is recorded of Yashua in John 5:19 that the Son can do nothing of himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.
Have we beheld Yashua? If the answer to that question is yes then we will be doing the works of Yashua with the fruit of the Ruach haKodesh, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control as evidence of our submitted, victorious life.

The Nations Rage

2011-03-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

We are back in California for a few days, gas is almost $4.00 a gallon here and it is everywhere evident that prices are up and quantity is down. The temptation is to stay put and play it safe and secure, I even asked Steve if we should pray about going back on the road again at this time. Of course we should always pray seeking the Father’s direction, but it was guised as, “We want to be sure we are getting our direction from YHVH, right?” So what’s so bad about that? Nothing, on the surface, but underneath is the question being driven by fear of “what if?” Steve’s response to me was, “I don’t have a check in my spirit about going out again, and we do have an assignment from YHVH don’t we?”

So, what is my assignment? Am I carrying it out no matter what my physical eyes see? No matter what my physical ears hear?

Daniel 11:32 says: And by smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their Elohim will display strength and take action.

In reading this verse we often focus on the latter part, “display strength and take action,” or as The King James puts it, “be strong and do exploits.” Let’s read on to get a fuller picture of this people. Vs. 33-35:

Dan 11:33: And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Dan 11:34: Now when they shall fall, they shall be surrounded with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
Dan 11:35: And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

And in John 15:20 Yashua says: Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

I am home, with my comforts around me and I had to answer the question YHVH posed to me, “Are you afraid?”

For a few months now Steve and I have been reading the Psalms and Proverbs through every month for our morning devotion. Almost every chapter is a headline of current events today. The nations are raging and in the midst of this calamitous cacophony of the multitudes YHVH says, if you are willing I will send you in MY strength with action, but know this, they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you!

In the story/talk YHVH has given me to share I pose this pondering; Islam is bent on taking over the world. They have a lot of momentum going on their side because a radical element of their belief is not afraid to die for their prophet. Do we, as believers in Yashua haMeshiach have the same kind of fire burning in our bones that says I am not afraid to die for the gospel of my Messiah? Are we that radical for Yashua? I am not talking about putting on explosive belts and blowing yourself up, but rather this kind of radical; “go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, cast out demons, freely you have received, freely give.”

I am convinced that those who take no thought for tomorrow, who keep their eyes focused on
Yashua haMeshiach, who count their life as nothing as Paul says in Acts 20:24:

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Yashua, to testify the gospel of the grace of Elohim

will do exploits, but will also be persecuted and may be martyred.

The comfort of my home and it’s (seemingly) safety and security, or the promise of persecution with great strength and action? To answer this question we have to take into account what our eyes and ears are focused on – what we can see and hear in the temporal realm or what we can see and hear in the eternal realm. Not everyone is called to do what Steve and I are doing, but you are called, you do have an assignment, are you being faithful to BE all you were created to be so you can DO all that He wants you to do?!

Mat 16:27: For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.

Let us remember that our rewards come from the place of abiding in Him out of which will flow
what He has for us to do, not that we do to earn a reward and be accepted by Him. Salvation is
freely given always and forever, there is nothing we can do to earn salvation. And because
of this awesome and priceless gift we then from an over-flowing heart of love and gratitude for
His abundant mercy and loving kindness toward us, we desire, want, need, long to do all that
He has for us to do! His grace is sufficient to take care of us in whatever trail and tribulation He
allows us to go through no matter the outcome; count it all joy!

Look up, for our redemption draws nigh!!!

The Time is Not Yet

2011-01-29T12:32:00.000-08:00

We have been home from Thailand for about three weeks and we are getting back into the routine of life here in the States – somewhat! There are some things that have caught our attention, one being that the news and views of world and national events from both the secular and religious medias are much like a soap opera – not much has changed from when we left to when we got back! So if you are living under the immediate danger, threat level red, induced and perpetuated by the reports you are hearing from the secular and religious media, we would encourage you to reassess your level of stress and reprioritize your priorities! Yashua left us with the message to work while there was day for soon the night is coming when no man can work. What is the work? to make disciples. How do we do that? Yashua told those he sent out to: “go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is near at hand, to heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead, cast out demons, freely you have received, freely give.” The night is coming when we will not be able to do this work anymore, but if we are alive then that time is not yet. The modern doomsday purveyors are reminiscent of the story of the little boy that cried wolf, but there was no wolf and when the wolf did finally come no one came to help because they thought the call was just another false alarm and as a result of their desensitization much loss of life resulted. The bond-slave of Yashua remains sensitized to the voice of His master, and as the song goes we, “Turn our eyes upon Yashua, look full in His wonderful face and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Prophecy is for us to know and recognize when recorded events happen, and be encouraged that the time of the fulfillment of all things is drawing close. Prophecy helps keep us from succumbing to the false flags and distractions that the enemy of the brethren would way-lay us with and by, hoping to distract our vision from the one who holds the world in His hands.

In the parable of the ten virgins they all fell asleep, but only five fell asleep with provision, the other five were left out of the wedding feast because they had not made adequate preparation. Let’s look at this “falling asleep” for a moment as a reference to death. Down through history many have fallen asleep in death who considered themselves a part of the “Bridal Company”. Their expectation was of Yashua returning in their lifetime; but the Bridegroom tarried. Can we see in the parable of the ten virgins five who died still holding fast to the promises, still sheltered under the wings of the Almighty, while the other five died having lost hope because they did not see that which they believed they would see. Yashua may have told this parable to help prepare those who have ears to hear; don’t lose hope, and though I tarry wait for me!

For those of us who consider ourselves a part of the Bridal Company today, we too need to heed the warning that there is going to be a time of waiting. The call has gone out, we have our light, but are we prepared to wait and wait some more until the Bridegroom does come even if He tarries beyond our life time? Friends let us work while we wait – the wait won’t seem so long if we are being about His business!

I would like to submit to you that we get back to the job that Yashua left us with. Prophecy is future history, it will unfold just as it is written and whether we understand the timelines or have the date down to the day or if we know who’s the anti-Messiah is frankly, in my opinion irrelevant, if Yashua does not find us being the people and doing the work that He left us to do. Could it be that we are so obsessed with end-time prophecy because we want to know the last possible moment to get out of Babylon and get Babylon out of us so we can have the proverbial cake and eat it too? If we are dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, abiding in the shadow of the Almighty day by day, what else really matters? Prophecies were given to us as signposts so we would be aware of the times as they unfold. As we see them fulfilled we rejoice because we realize the time of our soon-coming Savior is near. We rejoice because we know in whom we have believed and are persuaded that He is able to keep us against that day – the day of YHVH’s wrath.

It is easy to fall into the trap of self-preservation, we have been there and done that, bought that T-shirt (so to speak), but Yashua said that “those who would save their life will lose it and those that would lose their life for My sake and the gospels will save it, for what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world but lose his soul.” We believe the time to hunker down is not yet, the fields are white with the harvest. Go therefore into the fields and help bring it in! Will He find us faithful when He returns?

This posting is not about whether we believe the time of Yashua’s return is imminent or not. We pray and hope and believe that He will return in our life-time. What we are trying to convey is this - what are we doing with our time while we wait. Let us remain faithful no matter how long our Bridegroom tarries.

Is There Something We Are Missing?

2010-12-19T21:35:00.001-08:00

Mat 10:6-8 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Matt 17:20 for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

What is the fervent and effective prayer of a righteous man that avails much? Why do we pray and yet the sick remain sick and the demon oppressed remain oppressed, the lepers remain unclean, and the lost sheep are still lost? A mustard seed is a very small seed indeed and yet Yashua said that was all that was needed to change the physical position of a mountain! I have read the books and listened to the tapes and all the theories and postulations and justifications for the excuses as to why we don’t live, work and breathe in the power of the first century believers, but for me personally I am tired of accepting the excuses as to why we don’t and I am ready to discover how I can. I am ready for a change. When Steve was in Israel this fall he was talking to Moshe of The Shorashim Shop in the Old City. After a lengthy conversation Steve finally said, “I don’t know what to call myself anymore.” Moshe looked at him and said, “Why Steve, you are a first-century believer.” A first-century believer, WOW! Now, what exactly does that mean?

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of YHVH, and hold to the testimony of Yashua haMeshiach.

A first-century believer followed Torah (Yashua) and was filled with the Ruach haKodesh for what did Yashua say about the coming of the Ruach: John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Ruach haKodesh, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” Yashua also tells us in John 14:16-17 “And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.” Yashua and the Ruach haKodesh are the identity of the remnant; they are the way, the truth and the life.

No longer would the Ruach just abide with us as was the case throughout the First Testament, but the Ruach would now abide in us. This is tremendous! The Second Testament is the story of one account after another of the power of the Ruach in the lives of believers. Rav Shaul tells us in the book of Romans that the letter of the law kills, but the Spirit brings life. What’s the difference here? There were definitely power encounters in the First Testament so what could Paul/Rav Shaul be talking about? The difference I see is that the First Testament believers in YHVH did not have access to the Tree of Life. Without the Tree of Life there was no life, everything that was done only emphasized death highlighting the need for a Savior. The Law/Torah/Instructions only proved to man, everyday, that he could not keep the very thing that was supposed to guide him back to His creator. When Yashua came to live among men, He referred to Himself as the Light, the Living Water, the Bread of Life, eat of me and live He said in John 6:51. If we could have kept the Instructions/Law/Torah without eating from the Tree of Life there would have been no need for a Savior. But we have a Savior, Yashua haMeshiach made a clear path back to YHVH for us to follow, He promised the Ruach haKodesh to come live in us the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:33, “But this covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ declares YHVH, “I will put My Torah within them, and on their heart I will write it, and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.

Yashua takes the scribes and Pharisees to task in the 23rd chapter of Matthew for looking good

on the outside, appearing righteous, but inwardly full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. And in

Isaiah 29:13 is very descriptive of their condition, “Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote…”

And Paul carries on with this theme in 2Ti 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

We can debate the fine points of Torah all day long, but unless we are filled with the Ruach haKodesh which is doing the work of leading and guiding, directing us into all truth we only have a form of godliness. Yashua said, the world will know you are my disciples by the love you have for one another. What does the world see when YHVH’S “people” fall-out over the calendar, the sacred name, the divinity of Yashua, head coverings, women teaching men, circumcision, and the list goes on; almost everyone has a different point of view. Back in our network marketing days if someone didn’t want to get involved in building the business we were to “flush them.” There must be a lot of network marketers in the messianic movement for the attitude appears to be the same; if you don’t see it my way then ‘flush you.” This is definitely not the counsel Yashua left us with, He said that the world would know you are my disciples by the love you have for one another. It is this kind of love brought about by the indwelling power of the Ruach haKodesh that produces life that changes the world. Our endless debating on the fine points of Torah will not change this world, our, (even if we could) keeping each law to the letter will not change this world, these things didn’t do it for the First Testament Hebrews and they won’t do it for us. John 1:4 says, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Do we truly comprehend the abundant life that Yashua gave to us, or are we still in darkness?

Is there something missing? If we don’t live, breathe and work in the power of the first-century believer then yes, something is missing. To be a part of the Revelation 12:17 remnant we need both Yashua and the Ruach haKodesh, both Spirit and Truth, both Torah and Power, to deny one or the other is anti-Messiah.

And so, here we are again at community.

Act 2:42-47 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Anyone want to live in a community like this?!

Give and Receive

2010-12-19T21:34:00.000-08:00

December 6, 2010

Have you ever wondered why it is easier to give than to receive?

On the way to the airport this morning, to catch our flight to Thailand, the conversation turned to stories about people giving us things for doing good deeds or just being kind and how difficult it is many times to receive such generosity with only a heart-felt “thank you” – especially when we don’t feel we deserve their gift. We’ll bend over backwards in our attempts to wiggle out of accepting their generosity with a “no, no, that’s silly, keep it, I didn’t do anything; no really you keep that; no problem, it’s good;” we will say anything to keep from accepting what we may perceive as an unwarranted “free gift.” As a general rule we’re much better at giving than receiving.

As the conversation drifted on to other things I was struck with a startling thought that tied onto earlier bits of “going to the airport” conversation. I grew up in a religious denomination that was really big on works. In fact at the beginning of the individual Bible class study times each week a record was kept of how many Bible studies were given this week, how many pieces of literature were passed out, how much clothing was given away, how many home and/or hospital visitations were made and so on and so on. These were all added up and it was a point of pride for the person who had done the most. Even though I don’t remember this ever being preached from the pulpit, but certainly the strong under-current of belief in that denomination was – you have to earn your salvation – you have to prove you are good enough by all the good works you do and maybe, just maybe, if you are good enough God will accept you.

As a child I frequently went to sleep at night wondering, “was I good enough today that if I died tonight would I go to heaven or hell. It really is a terrifying question for a child. I was in my late thirties before my Heavenly Father answered that question for me for all time and eternity. I now have absolute assurance of my salvation in Yashua – Hallelujah! But for my wonderful, godly Great Grandmother just a short time before her death at the age of 102, I heard he asking her pastor, “How do I know Pastor if I’m good enough?” Her question broke my heart. She died without assurance in her Messiah’s free gift of the cross to her.

How many are in the same place? Are you, In the deepest depths of your heart really wondering the same thing? “Am I good enough?”

Sitting in the back seat of the car listening to the conversation drift around me I suddenly realized the two are related. We have trouble receiving what we may deem as unwarranted gifts because really in our heart of hearts we haven’t yet truly received the greatest unwarranted gift of all – eternal life. We still want to be the one in control, we want to be the giver, we want to orchestrate the event, we want to be good enough to deserve it, but we’ll never attain that place of “perfection” because our false sense of humility won’t allow it. Therefore we have to be the guy or gal on top – the one who gives and never takes – we want to be that one on the cross, not the one bowing at its foot.

Is this harsh? Are you recoiling at these words?

No, that’s not me, maybe you are saying. Well maybe this isn’t for you, and actually I pray that it is not, but if Yashua is knocking, right now, on your heart’s door – let Him in. He wants to sit at your table and eat with you and you with Him. He said He is the Bread of Life that came down from heaven – eat My flesh and drink My blood and live forever. He didn’t come to condemn you, He came to save you and He’s waiting to be invited in to dinner!

One last question, one last pondering before I go; if we in our hearts truly believed in Yashua’s free gift of eternal life would the description of the first-century believers become our life in the body of Messiah today?

Act 2:43-47 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Something to think about, isn’t it?

Welcome to Thailand

2010-12-10T01:07:00.000-08:00

December 9, 2010

We were up and on our way to the San Francisco airport by 2:30 am December 6 and we arrived safely in Bangkok, Thailand shortly before midnight of December 7. Twenty-four hours had been swallowed up in the crossing of the International Date Line and only will be recovered when we cross the same line on our return to the US in January. Right now our body clocks are definitely off, wanting to sleep in the day ann be awake in the night, but soon the activity of this place will out of necessity remedy that.

The kitchen crew is up and at it by 4:30 am and the kids are off to school by 7:00. Our day begins early and by 9:00, it's time for bed. Got to go, the day is begun!

December 10

Baby Bekah

Spent all morning taking care of little ones; Dok Mai is 2 and Bekka is 1 and Ting is 1 and John is around 6 and Mor Mor Chore is probably 3. Ting and John are both severely handicapped--victims of abuse and neglect. Bekah was born at 24 weeks and weighed about 2 pounds, but is an active, thriving little girl now. Dok Mai is the heart-stealer, a vivacious bundle of energy and Mor Mor Chore is definitely the man in charge. I went and took a nap after my morning with them!

Steve was at the lake helping to put in the plumbing for a toilet. The lake property is where the school has their open air church adn we get to spend Sabbaths in this beautiful, peaceful restful place. That's tommorow--Hurray!

The Million Dollar View Church

Steve is in charge of music class and I am teaching English-speaking class to the Level One students. There are about 18 in the class, all ages, from the babies to teens. Makes for quite an interesting class! We brought 5 Music Recorders with us and the kids in Steve's music class are really picking up on how to play them. We wish we had brought more. For Sabbath they are playing "As the Deer Pants for the Water" for special music.

We went to the open-air market yesterday afternoon--so many colors adn smells and flies. Some of the food vendors were quite diligent about fanning the flies away from their food, but most paid no attention to them. I know what vendors I would buy food from! Steve bought an iced frappachino for about $0.80 and I got a pineapple smoothie for the same price. Nice cool refreshment on a hot afternoon.

Last evening as I was going into the dining hall for devotions and dinner, Chokdee, the student pastor asked me if I would give the evening's devotion. So much advanced planning! "Be ready in season and out of season" a friend told us once. That certainly applies here.

Time for bed, talk to you tomorrow--or soon -- Goodnight!

December 13 - Monday

The girls pulled Steve and me aside Sunday evening and in whispered, conspiritorial tones told us MoMo Cat's birthday was tommorow. Then they looked expectantly at us with a "what do we plan to do for her" look. Uhh! Well, let's have a party. Okay--a cake? You buy? was the unspoken question -- Okay then now to finale a ride to town and not raise suspicions. MoMo is pretty much the only one who drives to Kanchanaburi or Bangkok for shopping trips and they are the only cities that have the supermarkets where one could only hope to find a cake or a cake mix or ingredients to makea cake!

Monday morning at breakfast Cat announced that she had to go to Kanchanaburi. She was taking Hannah to the bus depot for a trip to the Cambodian border to renew her visa. I said I would like to go if there is room in the car and get some fabric for sewing class and Steve said he'd like to go and see if he could find someone to fix the computer, so we along with a couple of the Bamboo School kids piled into the car and we all took off for town.

We found a somputer store, but after 3 hours, the computer was in worse shape than we brought it in -- the guy only charged 100 Bhat (a little over $3) I guess you really do get what you pay for.

I found some material at the fabric store--one nice print and 2 sturdy cotton solids for making hot pads for the kitchen. 80 Bhat for a meter of the solids and 100 Bhat a meter for the print. Translated: $2.25 per yd. and $3.25 per yd. It's been awhile since I've paid that little for good quality material in the States.

Now on to the supermarket--The Thai supermarkets are a lot like a WalMart Supercenter. Hardware, clothing and furniture to food. Traditional Thai food is cheap, but I was loooking for western food. Up one aisle and down the next; a confusing array of food all packaged up in lettering I could not understand, but finally someone who speaks and understands English. A cake mix - yes - follow me please. Sure enough, good ole' Betty Crocker, 3 different kinds sitting up there on the shelf, pretty as you please. No wonder-- 198 Bhat for a cake mix deserves a queenly throne. I picked up three mixes for all Bamboo School kids, and then went searching for frosting or powdered sugar to make frosting. Another kind lady took me over to where she assured me what she was showing me was frosting. The plastic bag had a picture of a cake with frostin on it, but the disconcerting aspect was the English word "margarine". "No, no," the kind lady said when I showed her the word margarine, "frosting for the cake." I wasn't so convinced, but picked up one 2 pound bag and then another for I had three cakes to frost. I also picked up a bag of cocoa to make the frosting chocolate, but no success finding powdered sugar. The Bamboo School girls with me assured me that I didn't need sugar anyway because I had the frosting all ready to go in the bag!

Sleeping babies all at the same time- a rare event!

Well well, so much for assurances. The "frosting" did indeed turn out to be 2 pounds of margarine; the cocoa powder was unsweetened, and I had no powdered sugar. It is said that necessity is the mother of invention so "mother" got to work. I mixed the 2 pounds of margarine with the pound of cocoa powder adn some coconut milk adn then some soy milk. Then I put them all on the stove and melted it together. The girls found some granulated sugar for me adn I poured that in-- not enough to make it sweet, sweet but enough so it turned out tasting liike a surprisingly good dark chocolate. Jeremy said he had to come half way around the world to get a bite of the best chocolate cake he had ever tasted -- and he was serious.

There wasn't any cake left by the end of the evening. MoMo was pleased, the kids were happy; the floor was sticky with bits of chocolate and strawberry ice cream slathered here and there. Speeches of gratitude to MoMo had been given by several kids, tears shed and hugs given; a happy group trouped off to bed, but it was a while before the excitement settled down. A very good day - you might say!

December 16

Steve spent the better part of the day cleaning out the teacher resource room. It was an accumulated mess of out-of-date non-working computers; books that gave a new meaning to the term "book-worm" for shelf after shelf was full of books that had been mostly eaten up by worms. The bindings facing out from the shelves looked fine, but when you went to pull the books off teh shelf, they were all stuck together like glue and riddled with holes and disintegrating into moldy dust in your hands. We can still take these remnants to teh recyler and get money for them- which we did - to buy new used books that hopefully the kids will get more use out of than the worms. These books remind me of the story of Yashua confronting the Pharisees saying, "you look good on the outside but inside you are filthy." If your life is just pretense when Yashua pulls you off the shelf, your true identity will be made known.

Steve finished loading the truck with worn-out useless things - broken wheelbarrows, rusted through 55 gallon metal drums and anything else the recycler might want and off we went. The recycler paid us almost 600 Bhat for our junk. Close to $20 US for our trouble. Definitely a shower night!

For your information a shower at Bamboo School is not what the word would typically imply to a western mind. A bathing area is typically attached to an outside wall of the bamboo hut, usually about 4 feet square.

Bamboo wall are on three sides tucked under teh thatched roof for protection from weather. The fourth side is enclosed with a shower curtain hung on a bamboo pole. The floor is a square of cement with a drain pipe that just directs the water from your bath away from the hut down the side of the hill. There is a 30 gallon trash can taking up one corner of the bath. this trash can is filled with water out of which you dip bowls full and pour over yourself. You dip and pour, dip and pour until you're washed and rinsed and ready to sweat again.

The boys and girls of Bamboo School go to the river for their baths. Only the teacher's bamboo huts have the "luxury" of enclosed private bathing. When our trash can is near empty of water, we do have to go and fill it up, but a small price to pay to have water available at your hut, especially after a hard sweaty days work!

December 17

Sewing class is going well! I have 2 students, Canagee and Leslie. Leslie is teh school nurse and is married to PoKwarlay and they have a baby boy named Orion. This Sunday I will begin teaching 2 new students, Julie adn NamPueng. With only one sewing machine I'm just teaching 2 at a time (or at least that is the plan). I took apart a skirt I brought with me and made a pattern from it. Next week we'll go to the fabric store in Kanchanaburi and buy fabric to make all the girls matching skirts. MoMo has great expectations! There are 19 girls. (Take note of the word "fabric"--you have to go to other stores for the rest of your sewing needs.)

Steve is progressing with teh music class. He now has taught them to play "As the Deer Pants for the Water" and "Hodu Lai Adonai". When the kids are home from Thai Government School you can hear the musical squeeks and sqeals of recorders all over the campus. Steve is working on making some flutes out of the native bamboo as well.

Last night we had our second terrific rain storm. (It is supposed to be dry season; someone tell the weather man.) Around 1:00am we woke up to the sound of a torrential downpour followed by thunder and lighning. Then the roof started leaking right over my side of the bed--drip drip. The beds are built in so you can't move them. I moved from left to right only to have the drips follow me--Can I sleep on your side of the bed Steve?

Fortunately it was a fast moving storm and soon we drifted off to sleep again. Today has been cool and overcast. The sun never broke through. Not a good day for making bread. MoMo wants us to have an Erev Shabbat service so Steve set about making Challah bread; but he is having difficulty finding a warm environment to induce the yeast to rise. It is either too hot or too cold. Where's the baby bear's soup that's just right?!

The kitchen crew is finishing the last of the Sabbath cooking preparations; the clean-up team has swept and mopped the dining hall floor; the Sabbath table is ready with candles and flowers, the grape juice and the bread --all waiting for the time of blessings. The bell rings and the kids quickly gather in teh dining hall. As is their custom before breakfast and dinner there is a time of worship before eating.ChokDee begins playing the guitar and the kids erupt in song--three songs, a prayer and all eyes turn expectantly to the table--and so begins our "welcome the Sabbath" service. The candles, songs, blessings, bread, juice--eagerly the kids participate. It's obvious they don't understand completely, but their whole-hearted enthusiasm is delightful.

The Karin people don't eat bread as a dietary staple and they definitely don't pull off chunks as it is passed around. So this was a new experience that was met with much timidity. Most took very small pieces but a few of the boys enjoyed the abundance of Yashua with substantial chunks. The other kids nervously giggled each time someone took a big chunk- I think maybe they were expecting someone to scold them for their "greediness." When no words reproof came, you could see wishfulness in eyes of "why didn't I take a bigger piece." (The bread was delicious!)

After dinner adn clean-up we put on some music and taught the dids who wanted to learn 2 Hebrew dances-"Kadosh" and "Henei Ma Tov". 8 Karin girls joined Steve and I and teacher Hannah. They learned really fast - much faster than I ever did! Then the girls sang and danced to some traditional Karin tunes. It surprised me how their dances are so reminiscent of Pacific Island dances; like Hawaii's Hula dancing. We truly had a joyous Sabbath celebration.

December 18--Sabbath

Wake up is a little late on Sabbath---7:30 instead of 5:30. Before 9:00 the kids are ready to go to the lake property for church. Many have begun walking and we'll pick them up as we meet them on the side of the road. 52 kids loaded into 2 Toyota pick up trucks -- an impressive site indeed!

It's so beautiful and peaceful here; gentle cool breezes flowing off the lake , the Boganvilliea, poinsiettas and marigolds abloom around the church walls. What a place to spend teh hours of Shabbat. We went back to school for lunch and then came back to the lake for afternoon activities-- mainly swimming-- first the boys and then the girls.

We did have a little excitement during church service this morning. A snake came slithering down the pathway and took up refuge in the rocks that line the path directly across from the entrance to our open-air church. The kids got all excited with the goys quick to pick up rocks trying to chase it away or maybe even hit it and kill it. The snake was pretty quick at dodging, thus avoiding its demise, but all during the remainder of the service it played peek-a-boo with us. There are around 200 varieties of snakes in Thailand with some 70 of those being poisonous. It's no wonder everyone was excited. When we came back in the afternoon the snake was nowhere to be seen.

December 19

The fellow in Sai Yok that really knows about computers is open all day on Sunday - we have not been successful in our other attempts to find him open - we are hopeful today is the day. We ask MoMo Cat for the car to go to Sai Yok. "Take this patient with you to the Sai Yok hospital for an x-ray and pick up another patient in Bong Ti and take to the hospital for an x-ray also," she says. We load up with our translator, Chokdee, and our patient and head for Bong Ti. The man we are picking up suffered a pretty severe head injury the day before while carrying a basket of corn he stumbled and fell head first on a rock, ripping his head open down to the bone. Cat and her EMS team responded to that emergency call and took the man into Sai Yok hospital. The nurse at the hospital poked around in his wound with her bare fingers and then finding nothing amiss stitched him up and sent him home! Cat thought he should at least have an x-ray so she is sending him back today.

We drop them off at the hospital and then head for the computer shop. The fellow is in and he does know what he is doing! After checking a few things he informs us that the power unit that accepts the computer electrical cord is non-functioning and needs to be replaced. He doesn't have that particular part, but he gives us an address of a shop in Bangkok that can help us. Who knows when we'll get to Bangkok! It does seem fixable though and that is the good news!!
We drive back to the hospital and our patients are waiting for us. The woman, Chokdee tells us, probably has TB - the hospital took a culture and we'll know the results in a few days. In the meantime they send her home with a surgical mask to wear over her face. No x-ray for the head injury patient, just a new dressing and home he goes.

There are so many dogs in Thailand. They lay in the road daring you to run over them. Taking the work crew up to the lake this morning we hit one. Not intentionally - the silly thing got up and began moving to the side of the road as we approached and then changed it's mind and we couldn't avoid hitting it. We heard it tumble under the car and come rolling out the back end. When we looked back it was sitting in the road looking quite dazed, poor thing gave one pitiful yelp and then hobbled off. On our way back from dropping the boys off at the lake - there the same dog was, lying on the side of the road this time looking like nothing had ever happened. I do think I saw it gives us a doleful glare as we passed by though!

Our hut - the shower room is to the behind-left of the trash/water can

Sewing class was this afternoon - 6 girls showed up. I showed them how to thread the machine, thread the bobbin, cut, put together pieces of material together, pin, sew straight seams, make hems, and each girl made a little bag. Some will stick with it and actually learn to sew, the other girls I'm not so sure. That poor machine surely took a beating today!

The kids are doing great in music class. MoMo wants to have a Christmas concert so they are practicing Joy to the World and doing quite well with it. Christmas isn't a big deal here which is nice.

Where all the dishes are washed

Because of the rain, the mosquitoes are reviving as is the malaria threat. We're glad we brought some electrification units with us. They've caused quite a stir among the kids who come up to the table where we're sitting using the devices and they say, "I want clean blood, shock me," as they hold out their arms.
Not everyone gets "shocked."
For more information on these devices do a search for the "Dr. Bob Beck Protocol."

December 21

Sunrise View from the Porch of our Hut

There is a lot of help at Bamboo School now. Ryan and Jessie have come in from Korea until the end of the month, two sisters Rochelle and Janelle from Australia are here until February and the older Bamboo School kids away at university or jobs are coming home for the holidays- we're filling up!

Beautiful Hibiscus off our Front Porch
MoMo Cat came home from Kanchanaburi yesterday with 20 meters of material to make all the girls Karin sarongs that they use as skirts. The fabric shop owner sold her the material- a nice cotton print for 35 Bhat per meter--WOW! I had asked her to get some zippers for me as I wanted to show the girls how to put in zippers--I'll have them make zippered bags. She brought home 10 - 8" zippers and told me the fellow only charged her 3 Bhat each. (It's roughly 30 Bhat to 1 USD) Yesterday Canagee and I designed a shirt we can make to wear with the skirts. It turned out quite well, despite not having a pattern. When we get them all made, I'll take a picture of the group and post it. Stay tuned!

Railroad Along the River Kwai
Steve made himself sore moving huge rocks around at the lake yesterday. They are building an altar like Elijah's with twelve stones as part of the landscaping at the lakeside church. When he went to bed last night, he said, "I didn't think I worked that hard today, but my back is telling me different." I rubbed some essential oil on his back and prayed for his back to be strengthened and restored. He slept well and is much more limber this morning.

The school received a surprise delivery yesterday. A lady contacted Cat and said that she heard about Bamboo School and wanted to donate some things. Two delivery trucks for CocaCola showed up with the back ends loaded up with boxes and other assorted bags and packages. This morning Cat is discovering computers and desks, an office chair, lots and lots of clothes and shoes, blankets and linens and all kinds of useful items. YHVH is Good--All the Time!

There are twelve kids at Bamboo School who need a sponsor. Becoming a sponsor means a financial committment of about $225.00 per year per child, that helps to pay for school fees and buy school uniforms, (Thai government schools require fees and uniforms, going to government school is the only way these Karin children refugees can ever hope to get a permanent Thai ID card), as well as food, also that you develop a relationship with the child you sponsor - like becoming an auntie or uncle writing letters, sending special gifts, visiting even - just so the child knows that there is someone outside of Bamboo School who is interested in them and loves them. If anyone is interested and we hope that there are at least twelve of you, let us know and we will send you more information and pictures of the children that need sponsors.

A Budhist Monk Waiting for the Train

December 22

If there is ever a sustained rice crop failure in this part of the world these people will starve! Rice is the featured and preferred breakfast, lunch and dinner food. Lately morning glory seems to be at the top of the vegetable list. Morning glory and I are having trouble getting along - if you catch my drift!

Music class is practicing their two songs for the Thursday night concert at the Elephant Park, "As the Deer Pants for the Water" and "Joy to the World." (I'll load a video clip when I get to the internet cafe, check back in a few days)

Bekah, the youngest member of Bamboo School started walking last week. Each day she gets more sure of herself and ventures farther. Tonight before worship she and DokMai got ahold of two recorders and were playing around with them, blowing and pretending they were playing music like the big kids - they actually were making sounds! They were really cute to watch until Bekah fell with the recorder in her mouth. Ouch! MorCherie quickly picked her up and comforted her, but that was the end of the recorder playing.

Pastor Nathan made an interesting comment the other day that I'd like to pass on and think about with you for a bit. He said he learned a long time ago that you come to help, to volunteer, but not to join. This simple statement has caused me to do much pondering and has helped me immensely to more thoroughly enjoy my time here at Bamboo School. Here are some of my thoughts.

To join something- there seems to go with the joining an unspoken personal permission to make or suggest changes. Most things we join there is already a set order that we are expected to follow. The change we might want to bring isn't always accepted or wanted or welcomed by the leadership of the group we've joined or want to join. We might be able to accept this lack of acceptance of our great ideas for awhile, but sooner or later a confrontation seems to happen if we hold onto the idea that because we've joined this thing we have a right to promote change. Often, it seems as I think about this, that splits, dissolutions, divorces, separations, enmity is the result. When we don't like the decisions of the leadership of the organization we've joined, we leave that group and go about setting up our own organization that we can be the leadership of and then people can come join us - only to have this cycle begin all over again, for you will reap what you have sown.

I am thinking that if we changed our attitude to that of a volunteer, "I'm here to help, to support you." Just imagine what kind of dynamics that attitude would put in place. For me it has taken away that challenging "need" to suggest and want to implement changes that suit my style of thinking and doing. There is a definite peace that come with, "I'm here to help anyway you can use me. I'm not here to change your thing or even make suggestions, I'm here to support you!"

So please don't ask me to join your thing for if I do then I'll think I'm free to activate changes that might put me at odds with you. Let me just support you with, "I'm here to help."

December 23

Steve, Ryan, Addajoe, Kwala, Misery and Leeda finished building the altar out at the lake property. They hefted some pretty big stones! Actually 7 huge stones formed the base, 4 large stones built up the top and 1 smallish stone was used as a stabilizing wedge - this one was dubbed the tribe of Benjamin. 12 stones in all, a representation of the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel.

The Altar of Elijah--12 Stones

This evening the kids went caroling. Cat and her team had been called out on an accident so there was just the green pickup to haul everyone into Sai Yok where we had the caroling engagements. These kids know how to pile in! Ryan was the driver and I was riding shotgun - away we went, but very slowly, all the kids wanted to be on the first bus into town - a 20 minute trip into town took 40 minutes. The kids were so enthusiastic about their school night foray to Sai Yok, they sang - at the top of their lungs - all the way to town. The next day Mrs. Happy, (she and her husband own the store where Bamboo School buys a lot of supplies), called Cat and asked, "when are the kids going to come and sing for us?" They had heard us singing the evening before as we passed them on our way to Sai Yok.

Our Night Out Carolling

We met Cat at the 7/11 in Sai Yok, everyone off-loaded the green truck and as many as could got in Cat's truck, the rest walked about 10 minutes to our first singing engagement and Pastor Malcolm and his wife CJ's house. Jerry and his wife Nok were there as well - both of them are big supporters of Bamboo School. The kids sang several songs and the recorder group played there specials and then we were off to the elephant park. The elephant park is where tourists can come and experience elephants up close and personal, including a trail ride and a river crossing. The people who take care of the elephants are a village of Karin refugees from Burma. Many of the Bambool School kids have relatives who live in this village and work at the elephant park. It was plainly evident that it was a great joy to bring the school to sing for their families. We went from bamboo hut to bamboo hut - 17 in all - singing, playing recorder specials, praying. Steve was asked at one house to play a solo. Quite a few families made special requests which the group was only too eager to accommodate. Some people gave money which Cat used to buy ice-cream for the kids - a special treat.

It's hard to explain what I experienced as we walked through that village singing for these displaced peoples. 17 homes built of bamboo, mostly thatched grass roofs, a few with tin, almost all had at least one electric bulb, but a few only lit by candles, they are living one day at a time - doing what they can do to survive in a world that seems not to care that they too are a persecuted people. It's a simple life, everything is done on the floor, eating, sleeping, sitting - not a lot to move if you have to go in a hurry. Their food is simple, mostly rice, some vegetables, occassionally some meat, they bathe and wash their clothes in the river. It's a survival mode of life for who knows if they will be here tomorrow or be alive tomorrow. These people know the brutality of man against man first hand. There villages in Burma have been burned, their family members killed, they've been forced to flee from their homes, there life is very much about today. They work for about 80 to 120 Bhat a day - that's equivalent to $2.75 - $4.00 USD.

They didn't know about the lunar eclipse in conjunction with the shortest night of the year, they are not waiting with baited breath for the impending division of Jerusalem, there life is very much about now, not tomorrow or yesterday, but now.

What will Yashua find us doing when He does finally return? As Oswald Chambers says in, "My Utmost for His Highest", will He find us ministering in the mean (ordinary) streets among the mean (ordinary) people, sharing His love, His compassion? Will the world know we are His disciples by the love we have for one another?

In the simpleness of this place I find myself asking, what really matters?

The prophetic march of end-time events?

The "correct" Biblical calendar?

The sacred name controversy?

The debate over the divinity of Yashua?

Or fulfilling the words of Yashua; go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and preach that the kingdom of Heaven is near, heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead, cast out demons, freely you have received, freely give - the world will know you are my disciples by the love you have for one another.

If you are finding yourself caught up in the plethora of prophecy tauting correctness then I would say to you, "simplify" - now, today and then go to the mean streets among the mean people, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, (you can find them right where you live) and let it be said of you that the world knows you are a disciple of Yashua by the love you have for one another!

December 24

John is a six year old boy who lives at Bamboo School. His mother who abandoned him at birth had ghonorea when he was born, as a result he is blind and deaf and has ceberal palsy as well. Hannah, the teacher from Australia, has taken over John's care. She told me that God had been speaking to her about caring for "the least of these" and John is one of "the least of these," she said. I must say he is thriving under her care. He is much more content and happy than when we first came. Different kids are assigned to take care of the babies - the helpless - and the kids assigned to John were doing their best, but it was quite evident that John needed more.

Hannah and John at Sabbath School

John likes sensory imput he can feel or taste. Stand him up by a wall or a pole and soon (if he is content) he'll be sliding his big tongue back and forth across the wall while his eyeballs roll back in his head in a pure expression of ectasy. Hannah takes him swimming with her and you can hear John chuckle with delight. When you pick him up to carry him someplace he'll wrap his arms around your neck and maybe give you a big, sloppy kiss too! Until Hannah started caring for John I must admit I didn't see him as much besides a burden. I look at John differently now so when a new teacher showed up this week and said to me last night while we were singing for the families of the elephant park-- "we need to pray for John to be healed." My reaction and response to her surprised me and her too! "Yes we can pray", I said, "but we should first seek God's will for John and then pray that."
"Of course it's God's will he should be healed", she said. I responded, "But John is a delightful little boy and he teaches the kids so much - Have you watched how they interact with him and he with them?"
"He might be cute and fun now," she said, "but what about when he's 30, he won't be so easy or fun to take care of then." I said to her, "Maybe we need to look at John for the delightful boy he is right now - Maybe John is fulfilling God's purpose in him just the way he is." He teaches us patience, caring, fortitude, longsuffering; John effectively teaches us how to love and be loving.
John, besides all his other troubles, has a brain aneurism. The doctors gave him a life expectancy of 5 years - he has already passed that by a year. Would it be wonderful if John were soveriegnly healed by God/YHVH? Absolutely yes! But can I see the beauty in John as he is now and love him unconditionally as a child of our Heavenly Father now? Or, is my love dependent on a physical healing?
Do we press God in our prayers demanding what we think is or would be the best before we have taken the time to discern His will? Are the emotions of our hearts and our intellect determining how we respond? Or are we learning to listen to the heart and voice of God/YHVH?
It goes again to the words of Jesus/Yashua, "I only do what I see my Father do; I only say what I hear my Father tell me to say." We lay down our right to ourself and take up our cross and follow our Messiah.
This teacher said to me with tears in her eyes, "I have such a burden for John." I responded to her, "Then maybe YHVH has given John to you for prayer - and care."
She immediately took this to heart and began helping Hannah with John's care. As the days have passed, I see such a love from her for John. She is now seeing the beauty of John as he is and she - in fact all of us - are being changed by YHVH through this small boy.

December 25

It was Cat’s idea to take the English tradition of Boxing Day and apply it Thai style. Traditionally Boxing Day is the day after Christmas when you would box up all you extras or whatevers and then go give your “boxes” as gifts to those less fortunate than yourselves (at least that’s how I understood Boxing Day when it was explained to me.)

Bamboo School’s version: On Friday the cooking team prepared all kinds of food including Christmas cookies, no-bake oatmeal cookies and banana bread. But instead of serving all this food to the kids and us, it was divided up and put into baskets for the poorest of the poor in our near-by villages. The baskets were filled up with rice and fruits and vegetables and sweet treats and other assorted gift type items for the children of the families. Then Sabbath afternoon some of us went into the villages and passed out the baskets to 8 families—30 people in all. The gratitude these people expressed was overwhelming, bringing tears to the eyes of most of the group.

That evening the kids had their feast and received their Christmas packages, but the lesson of the day was learned—we take care of those less fortunate than ourselves, and we are blessed in the process.

Ryan was the "Ho Ho" man passing out presents to the kids

This area of Thailand has quite a bit of farming. The Karen refugees in this area work the farms to earn their daily bread. Now that the harvest is over, there is little work for them until about March. It is a hard 3-4 months for these families. They forage in the jungle for their greens, but it is the rice that they really rely on to fill out their diet.

Portions get pretty meager and many times parents go without to make sure their children have something to eat. $50 US can buy a 50 Kilo bag of rice that goes a long way to fill empty stomachs. If you would like to help support these poor families for the next three or four months you can go to www.bambooschool.org and get the information on how to forward the money on to Cat. She will then buy and get the rice out to the families that are needing it.

December 26

Today is a sewing day. Cat bought material to make all the girls Sabbath sarongs. All the girls want to make these sarongs in the style of Nam Pueng’s. She is one of the older girls and her sarong has a waistband with a clasp and ties, and is sewn so it remains closed and doesn’t come accidentally undone. So instead of this project being one simple straight seam repeated 19 times, it has become more involved with fittings for dart placement and waistband measurements, and ties and buttons and buttonholes. But first, I had to figure out the pattern. It’s amazing what one can do when you have to because there are no other choices.

Between getting all the girls measured and cutting the material into size and appropriate lengths I only managed to get one sarong made. I’m not quite sure what the girls were expecting. I think maybe that I was supposed to have them all done by that evening—well it didn’t happen, but progress was made. I figured out how to sew a sarong like Nam Pueng’s.

Steve is getting a real education in the fine art of building with bamboo. He’s gone out with some of the boys into the jungle to fill their “material order” and get the correct size and lengths of bamboo for the current project. Back home you go down to Home Depot. Here you go out into the jungle-- Quite a difference. And here, the isles are not level—they go up and down—steep up and down!

Technology meets Jungle...and Loses!

It is amazing what you can do with bamboo. You make all your studs out of the larger bamboo. And then you make stringers out of the smaller diameter pieces. For your “plywood” you get the really large bamboo and start going through all the joints and making splits through the joints with a machete; about ¾” apart. When you have all the joints split up, you split one of the sides clear down and through each joint. Then you roll the piece out flat and voila! --You have bamboo plywood that is amazingly strong. It bends a little as you walk on it but it is very strong. We call it Karin plywood here.

December 27

Market scene where much of our food comes from.

Tonight for our after dinner activity, Cat announced that it was Thai language night – the kids were going to teach the Teachers Thai. She had four to six kids gather around each teacher and then the teacher had to tell the students what they words and/or phrases they wanted to learn in Thai so as not to get taken advantage of by the Thai shop keepers, tuk tuk taxi drivers, how to order at a Thai restaurant, where’s the hong nam (bathroom) that sort of thing. Cat is a jokester, she told Steve to ask Amortai (his student teacher) what the Thai word for pumpkin is. I was down in the sewing room so I didn’t hear this exchange, but Cat soon filled me in on what all the laughter was about. Her apartment is directly above the sewing room and since the floors on the residence halls are bamboo we carried on a nice little conversation about Steve’s delicate predicament. (Let me explain about the bamboo floors – The planks are only about an 1/8th inch thick and they are not interlocked so you can see through the separations and even pass things through the slits – needless to say not much sound insulation.) Cat proceeded to tell me this story: several years ago an agricultural expert came to Bamboo School to help for awhile. Several Bamboo School kids were assigned to help him. At the end of the day one of the boys came to MoMo and asked if Teacher (the ag expert) was a pumpkin farmer. Why, she asked. Well, the student replied, he kept saying “pumpkin” all day long. Now for you to get the reason for Steve’s delicate predicament you need to know what the Thai word for pumpkin is – pumpkin in Thai is fauck. (Yes, like our English version of that word, but a little bit more aw sound and less short u sound.) Amortai was insistent that Steve say it correctly and Steve was just as insistent to say it not so correctly and Cat was having a good laugh at his expense!

Amortai and team teaching Steve Thai

The lesson did move on to more helpful words and phrases. Steve has such a facility for languages, he picked Thai up quickly and I’m sure next time we’re in town he’ll probably use some of his new knowledge.

December 28

Wow! The month is almost gone and in a few days it will be January 1, 2011. Happy Gregorian Calendar New Year everyone!

Last night it actually got cold! It doesn’t take long for it to warm up during the day, but we all got chilled in the night. If the houses were all enclosed it wouldn’t have been a big deal, but these bamboo huts are built for hot weather – everything is open for the pleasant breezes to blow through, so when it’s cold those breezes blow through as well. At morning worship this is the picture that greeted my eyes:

The boys are cold this morning!

Every day the girls come home from school, they find me and ask how many did I finish today? MoMo Cat has started calling my little corner of the teacher’s resource room “The Sweat Shop”, for it seems like, lately that’s where I find myself from morning to evening to bedtime! But my finished stack is now taller than my “to make” stack except that we got a new girl at Bamboo School this weekend and Cat said she needs a sarong too! I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll ever finish all the projects that keep piling up before we leave. Besides the sarongs, there is material waiting to be turned into Sabbath blouses to go with the sarongs. And there are little skirts to make for the babies, and scrub tops to make for all the EMS volunteers; MoMo wants to use a nice distinctive Karin print to distinguish them from the other teams. And then there are all the other daily repairs to keep up with that the kids are suddenly bringing to my attention now that they know there is a seamstress in the camp.

There is one girl, Canagee that is learning all about the sewing machine and is progressing quite nicely in her sewing skills. If I can get her far enough along, I’ll pass some projects on to her—especially the mending. She in turn can teach some of the others after I’m gone.

Steve worked at the lake today—shoveling up dirt to fill in the rock planters he and the older boys also built today, which means they had to go out to the jungle and get the rocks to make the planters with. They don’t have Home Depot carts out in the jungle either. One of the other volunteers from Hong Kong—Sarah, planted some Bougainvillea and other plants and shrubs to help beautify the lake property. They really did have a nursery so we didn’t have to go into the jungle for the plants.

Scenic drive on the way to Sai Yok

Then he and Kwala went to Sai Yok taking rubbish (that’s garbage for you in the USA) and recycling in and loading up 10 bags of Portland cement for the trip home. Cement for more projects and always rubbish runs into town—The recycler is getting to know Steve on a first name basis and even gave him and Kwala some banana cake she had made for her “regular” customers for New Years. The dump is several acres just off the road behind a hedge of trees and bushes where you go and throw off your trash and someone comes along every few days and burns most of what will burn. It’s usually smoldering somewhere most of the time. There is not much in the area of waste management here-- Lots of little fires along the side of the roads for burning up “rubbish”. Steve’s been really good about getting things cleaned up—always finding something for the recycler. Our new/used book fund is growing nicely thanks to his efforts.

January 3

Puko, Thacoo and Ethamoo - girls gone tribal!

Steve is finally doing more of what he thought he was coming to Thailand for – nursing care.

Cat has been away quite a bit on one mission or another and Steve is picking up the slack for after-hour emergency care. Cat was in Bangkok last Thursday when a EMS call came in about 9:30 p.m. so Steve and Canagee responded. The man was having great difficulty breathing and it was decided to take him on in to the hospital in Sai Yok. The Thai nurses at the Sai Yok hospital treat the Burmese patients very badly and acting true to form they refused to admit the patient – said to come back in the morning because they didn’t have anyone to take care of him. So they brought him back to the Bamboo School clinic/hospital and Steve stayed down in the hospital administering breathing treatments throughout the night. First thing in the morning they took him back to the hospital and this time the nurses said that they wouldn’t admit him because he didn’t bring his sputum samples with him. Steve finally got them to admit the man promising that he would go get the cups and make sure they got to the hospital that day. It turns out that the man most likely has tuberculosis – we have since found out.

Another sad event for the EMS team was a call they answered a few days ago for a young – 19 years old – girl in severe distress. They ended up transporting her to Kanchanaburi, a victim of poisoning. As the story has unfolded it appears that the poison was self administered in a suicide attempt. Her boyfriend “went away” and she was not able to cope with the rejection – finding a jug of weed killer she drank a sufficient amount to accomplish the desired result, but death by this method is agonizingly slow – it’s sure but slow. For the past few days since the initial incident her body has been slowly shutting down and last night Cat received a call from her distraught father saying he needed to get to the hospital as his daughter was almost gone. There is no cure or antidote for this type of poisoning – so with time for second thoughts are there any? What agony and distress for everyone, waiting for death, knowing it’s coming and there isn’t anything one can do to prevent it.

Dr. Cozy, a pediatrician from the States was here this weekend giving the kids a check-up – in her opinion Zac’s heart murmur (he’s had from birth) has gotten louder since she was here last to check so Steve has taken him to the Sai Yok hospital this afternoon for a second opinion.

Shirley's "sweat shop"

New sarongs for the girls

On Sabbath, out at the lake, sitting on the cool tiles of the open-air church, Cat asked us how we were feeling. As she went from person to person responses came like “privileged, happy, blessed, glad” and then she asked me, I was hoping she wouldn’t call on me as I was sitting behind her out of sight but “teacher Shirley, what are you feeling?” I didn’t want to answer because my response was going to be out of character with all the other happy responses given so far – I could have lied about my feeling and kept the happy mood going, but I chose to answer truthfully, “impatient.” I said. (Upon reflection I think I was more sad than impatient, but nonetheless.) After a couple of moments of silence she asked, “why impatient?” I said I am impatient for my Savior’s return, I would have preferred Him coming last year.”

The abject poverty, the destitution, the hopelessness, the rejection just because you are ill-favored people; it’s hard to put into words my feelings about man’s inhumanity to man – but yes, I would have preferred my Messiah returned last year. The street news on the Thai – Burma border is that war is imminent, between the Burmese army and the Karin Resistance forces. The Burmese have finally gotten the Karin army cloistered in a narrow strip along the Thai Burma border and the Burmese are feeling pretty confident that they will be able to wipe the Karin out at long last. Bamboo School is a stone’s throw from the Burma border – Cat has an evacuation plan in the event the Burmese army crosses the border to route out the Karin. But I think of all the Karin families that have made this area their home away from home. We went to the Bong Ti Baptist Church Friday night for their New Year’s celebration party. Couldn’t understand a word of what was going on, but everyone was sure having fun, all kinds of skits and music from the kids, our recorder group even performed a special number, lots of food and drinks, but the Karin who are this church are right in the path of an advancing Burmese army. The kids at this school – all of them – have suffered at the hands of unrighteous men – how long Abba must the wicked reign? How long until there are enough martyrs under the altar? How long before Yashua returns and every knee bows before Him?

Friday afternoon "goof off!"

Yes, for a hurting world, maybe I used the right word after all; I am impatient for His return!

January 5

Yesterday was a 22 hour day for us! We left Bamboo School at 2:00a.m. and got back to Bamboo School at midnight. About two weeks ago we discovered that we were 4 days over our visa. Thailand only gives entry visas for one month unless you have made other arrangements. Our options were to pay the overstay fine at the airport when we leave and get an overstay stamp on our passport which would mean we would need to renew our passports when we got back to the states so we could get into Thailand the next time we want to come or go to Thailand Immigration office and apply for an extension or change our flight and leave the country early or make a border run. We decided on the last option. Cat was going into Bangkok on Wednesday for a doctor’s appointment so we went with her and got on the 6:15a.m. bus at Ekami Bus Terminal heading for the Cambodian border.

Having grown up during the era of the Viet Nam war this was quite an experience heading for Cambodia. As the bus went along through a very lush, agricultural countryside I tried to imagine what it was like to be one of the women in their peaked straw hats working in the rice paddies when suddenly the sound of gun fire comes to your ears and you fall down in the rice paddy trying to protect yourself from the spray of machine gun fire. I tried to imagine the terror of that scene or the panic of wondering if your children were okay or the horror of seeing a soldier or a friend or family member die in the exchange of bullets. Having never experienced that reality I could not imagine it in my mind. I do not understand war. As I watch people in the different countries Steve and I have traveled in it seems to me anyway, that the majority of people just want to live their life, raising their children, going to work, eating, sleeping, laughing, loving. Usually, it seems to me again, that just a small segment of society propagates war that the rest of us are forced into. The king of Thailand is trying to recover from being poisoned by his own son. The son is anxious to assume the throne and promote his agenda which is diametrically opposed to the course his father has pursued for the last 60 plus years. The king has always favored and helped lift up the people of his kingdom; the son wants to rule by military dictatorship. While the king is hospitalized the son is making alliances with Burma – a military dictatorship. If the son gets his way there will be war. The people are already demonstrating – the yellow shirts against the red shirts. With the son ruling as a military dictator the chances of all foreigners being expelled is very high. With the threat from the Burmese army to overrun the Thai border in pursuit of the Karin people and the son attaining the throne of Thailand and becoming a military dictatorship Bamboo School is in a precarious position. What happens to the kids if MoMo has to leave the country? What happens to the kids if Bamboo School is taken away or destroyed? Please remember to pray for the teachers, the leaders, the kids of Bamboo School, that our Heavenly Father continues to hold them in his hand where the enemy cannot snatch them away.

"Welcome to Cambodia" border gate with casinos in the background
We got to the Cambodian border around 10:40a.m. About a half hour before the border our bus driver stops the bus along the side of the road and motions for about half a dozen people to get off the bus. They comply and we go on leaving them by the side of the road. About 5 to 10 minutes later we come to a military checkpoint – a soldier gets on the bus and begins to check everyone’s papers, he finally gets off the bus and we travel on. In a few more minutes we stop in front of a store in this city we’ve just come into and the same 6 or so people that he made get off the bus before the checkpoint are waiting to get back on the bus. Our driver opens the door and in they come and travel on with the rest of us to the Cambodian border. Evidently that had no papers and if caught would have been detained by the police. This happened on our return trip as well. The bus drivers seem to take care of the illegal’s – they are probably paid to do what they do, but no matter, it was interesting to watch this game of cat and mouse. On our return trip one man was not told to get off by the bus driver before the checkpoint and when the police went through the bus checking papers he was taken off the bus and detained by the police.

Us - at the Thailand/Cambodian border

The immigration lines were long and we ended up missing the 1:00 return to Bangkok bus. We saw it driving past the market on the way out of town, we ran into the road and tried to wave it down, but the driver only gave us a startled look and proceeded on. So we took the 2:30 bus back to Bangkok. It turns out this bus was the local one and not the express bus – a 4 hour trip turned into a six hour one with the driver stopping at every stop and then some between Cambodia and Bangkok. And then to boot we didn’t even end up at Ekami, but at the Morchit bus station. We were to meet Cat at Mission Hospital and Steve was not going to take a taxi or a tuk tuk so we started walking – trying to find the BTS (the sky train). After several inquiries and quite a few blocks we got to the BTS station – 30 Bhat for two tickets. Got off at the station the BTS attendant said was the closest to Mission Hospital and then tried to find Mission Hospital – walking again. Steve stopped to ask a security personnel – who didn’t have a clue – and while he was trying to figure out what we were possibly requesting of him a tuk tuk taxi showed up – talk about opportunist – “sure, sure I know where it is, I take you for 100 Bhat.”

“I’m not taking a tuk tuk,” Steve growls. “How much longer are we going to walk around this city, making Cat wait for us while you try and figure out where the hospital is?” I ask him as I climb into the back of the tuk tuk. “He better not take us to any factory stores,” Steve says as he joins me in the back of the tuk tuk. Before Steve got in he negotiated the driver down to 60 Bhat. A mile or so up the road our tuk tuk pulls into the front entrance of Mission Hospital. Cat was out front waiting for us – she had left her phone at home that day so keeping in contact and getting help was pretty much non-existent. When she found out we had come into the Morchit bus station instead of Ekamai she said if she had known she would have met us there as that was on our way out of town. We didn’t know we were ending up at Morchit until we got off the bus! “Why didn’t you just take a taxi from Morchit to Mission Hospital,” she asked when we told her of our night’s adventures, “it would have only cost you 40 Bhat.” I just looked at Steve and kept my mouth shut – sometimes its better that way!

We got the stamp and our visas are good until the 19th of January.

January 8

The Well

It was decided that we would spend all day Sabbath at the lake, a picnic, swimming, games and craft activities; the kids were really excited! All week the different classes of kids had been practicing something special to present for this Sabbath as MoMo Cat wanted to dedicate the Lake Church to God this Sabbath. Steve and the boys have been hard at work getting the well finished – which means a roof. Kwala, Misery and Steve designed a bamboo roof, quite ingenious actually how the Karin use bamboo for all sorts of construction purposes. Pretty much the rule of thumb around here is “if you can’t build it with bamboo, you don’t need it!” For the well roof they gathered 4” diameter bamboo from the jungle and then split it down its length – the one half was placed up and the other half lapped over the first half only facing down – much like how clay tiles are applied on roofs. To hold the bamboo lengths in place a split length of bamboo is placed at the bottom that also serves the purpose of gutter as well as place holder. The roof structure was a little shaky so Steve put up some wire cross bracing that firmed the roof up nicely. The boys take special delight in cranking the wire tightener so who knows how long it will last before the wire breaks under the increasing tension!

Ethamoo, Pukio and Thacoo show off their new outfits!

Ethamoo with her personal flotation device!

I finished all the tops for the girls that I am going to make – this trip anyway! The fabric for the blouses is an absolutely misery – you just look at it and it ravels so I am french hemming all the seams. The girls looked really cute in their new duds! The style of tops aren’t what they are use to wearing so most of the girls showed up this morning ready to leave for the lake church with T-shirts under their new tops. Later in the day I realized that they had a design to their apparel, for after church service they took off their new tops and sarongs revealing T-shirts and shorts - immediately ready to go swimming. These kids, I think would live in the water if you let them! Not all the kids bothered with T-shirts and shorts though – we had a few nude bathers, mostly the younger set, and several opted for their fancy new Christmas underwear as the latest style in swimming apparel.

For the different class presentations I have to share one with you – Jannell’s class had prepared a skit on “Jesus Feeding the 5,000.” The children obediently filed up when their skit was announced and then seated themselves like the multitude on the hillside in the Bible story. Then Jesus came and stood before them, opened his Bible and began to preach. I couldn’t help myself this picture struck me so funny, “Jesus has a Bible,” I said, and then Ray, who was also laughing, said, “And he’s preaching from Matthew.” Jesus was very serious and took his preaching very seriously, the multitude though was getting a little ancy so it was a good thing when the loaves and fishes showed up and everyone got to eat.

Steve's music group - not everyone brought their recorders!

DokMai adding musical accents

Last evening was our last Erev Shabbat. The kids have really gotten to look forward to this time. At breakfast they were asking Steve and me if we were going to make the bread today. Then in the afternoon the girls who work in the kitchen were singing “Shabbat Shalom” they have really taken a liking to that song. I had help in setting up the Sabbath table, getting the candles ready and the wash basins and the cups for grape juice and the cloth for the bread. The first Erev Shabbat there was half the bread left over, and each Erev Shabbat the amount of bread left over has gotten less and less until this week there wasn’t any left over. The kids have really developed a taste for Sabbath bread! They are picking up the “Bread Came Down From Heaven” song as well and they really like to do the Shalom to each person with their hunk of bread. At first they were shy about breaking off chunks of bread, but I am here to tell you that the shyness for most of them has disappeared, now I have to keep them from taking half the loaf! Raising their cup of grape juice for the wine blessing is done with a great deal of enthusiasm too – LaChaim, to Life, they all shout before we drink it down. We bless the kids under the tallit each Erev Shabbat, first the boys and then the girls. They all crowd under and Steve puts his hand on each of them and blesses them, there is such an eagerness in their eyes when we do this, I just love their enthusiasm!

Bekah joins the musical action

Of all the aspects of the Welcoming the Sabbath service, the one that never fails to touch my heart is the hand-washing part. When we were in Israel two falls ago, Kaye and Martin taught us their hand-washing liturgy and we have since used it every Erev Shabbat. We have been teaching it to the kids here at Bamboo School – it goes like this; I dedicate these hands to Messiah Yashua, the hope of glory, to serve Him and Him only. We have a basin filled with water and an empty basin set out on the table. The kids all line up and one by one they place their hands over the empty basin as Steve pours water over their hands and they dedicated their hands to the purposes of Messiah. At the end of all the kids and everyone else the empty basin is now full of dirty water. It’s so prophetic to me – as we dedicate ourselves to Yashua the dirt is washed away and then we partake of the bread that symbolizes his body, for He said that “I am the bread of life – eat of Me and live” with clean hands – we have exchanged the profane for the holy.

We end the evening with singing “Shabbat Shalom”. The kids have really got this one down and the Hai! At the end is loud and boisterous! I love Erev Shabbat’s!

January 9

Shirley with Cerewan and Dang.

We leave Bamboo School tomorrow. It’s been quite an experience! I have been doing some review of the last four weeks and in that mental, emotional review I was reminded of the story in Exodus where it is said of the Israelites – “and they went around the mountain again.” When one is taken from one’s comforts and habits and traditions and thrown into a situation that is completely foreign it is then that one can begin to know what the weak spots in one’s personality, relationships, flexibility / adaptabilities really are. I told Steve after I had been reviewing my personal state of the past month, “I think I’ll have to go around this mountain again.” I missed the soft comfort of my bed, familiar food, a language I can understand, I miss my children and grandchildren and friends, I miss a real shower and hot running water and clean dishes and toilets that flush and something besides rice for breakfast. I did a fair amount of mental grousing for which I am ashamed for to grouse means that you are not living in the reality of “now,” but wishing, hoping, complaining that your reality were different which it cannot be because what is is what is. When we live in the now and accept what is as our reality there is a great peace and contentment that comes with knowing that you are in the will of YHVH at the present moment and He has orchestrated your circumstance to bring about His purpose in your life – to believe less than that would be to say that He is not in control of everything and you have assumed the role of God in attempting to declare your reality which is not a reality at all, but only a wishing that what is were something different. Peace, joy, happiness and all the fruits of the Ruach are manifestations of the reality of “living in the now.”

I will miss the loud, enthusiastic singing of these delightful, naughty children. I will miss their shy smiles and clasped hands about my waist. I will miss the whispered, “I love you teacher sowre.” (Sowre is their adaptation of Shirley.) I will miss their gentleness and sweet spirits. But they are children like children everywhere who have to be told more than once to do their chores and clean up their sleeping place and wash their dishes and like children everywhere all the stunts and shenanigans they do to get out of what they are suppose to be doing. This afternoon we ran out of water, this happens when the village below us turns on the irrigation valves, since we are at the top of the hill – no water makes its way up here – so the boys are suppose to carry water up from the well. Tell them once and they act like they are on their way to the well, but it soon becomes apparent that they are down in front of the hospital playing kickball! Go tell them again and they act like they don’t understand you so I take away their ball. 15 minutes later a call outside the teacher’s room window, “Teacher, brought up water, have ball back?”

Steve trying to get Eggleedoh to smile.

We are leaving Bamboo School having taken on the responsibility of sponsoring three children. Cerewan is 12 years old. Her father is from Burma and her mother died shortly after they fled the country. Dang is 15 also a Burmese refugee with a mother and 4 siblings, her father having died when she was quite young. Eggleedoh is 6 years old and his story has changed from when he first arrived. MoMo is now in the process of uncovering the truth. He was in the hospital with malaria fever this week, but was well enough to go to the lake with the work crew and enjoy some swimming after. If anyone would like to establish a relationship with any of these three we would be happy to forward your letters and whatevers along with ours. It would be fun for the kids if some similar age young people from outside of Thailand would correspond with them letting them know what life is like in a different part of the world. You can send your “whatevers” to us at: P.O. Box 503, Bangor, CA 95914, and we will make sure the kids get them.

Well, this is our last post from Thailand (we will most likely do a conclusion when we get home) we hope you have been blessed by the reporting of day to day Bamboo School events and the insights gleaned along the way. We’re looking forward to seeing you all again sometime soon!

January 10

Some memorable moments of yesterday.

Maymayoo enjoys a splash in the lake

Most of us went on work details at the lake Sunday morning - any time at the lake is a good time for the kids (and the rest of us too!) For the first couple of hours everyone was working hard doing their jobs with great diligience, but the gentle lapping of the water at the lake shore could finally be resisted no longer and one by one, two by two the kids began to skip from their jobs and slip into the lake. In their haste to join their compatriots in the lake the kids working up on the hill came running down the hill taking a shortcut through the newly planted garden. Our fiesty New Zealander, Margaret, who was in charge of planting and maintaining the garden that day was calling out to the kids, "get out of the garden, don't walk in the garden." She and her team had worked all morning in the flower garden surrounding the outside of the church wall planting bulbs. She repeatedly told the children to use the path and stop short-cutting through the garden and the children acted like they didn't hear her-- granted there is a language barrier, but they all got the point when she picked up a bamboo pole and went after them with it. She didn't actually hit anyone, but they sure got the message and stayed out of the garden (at least for a couple of minutes).

MoMo Cat got out the de-worming medicine a few nights ago and all the kids are reaping the benefits. The hong nam block--Whew! Anyway, this morning MorMor Chore (he's 4 years old) was out playing when suddenly he sat down and put his fingers down his throat--after a few seconds of gagging, up came a worm about 8" long. The kids were simutaneously awed and grossed out. Steve saved the worm in a jar with water and showed it to all the kids after dinner and told them this is what they get if they eat the fish and chicken from this area. I think some became vegetarian converts after that show and tell!

I saw my first cobra today as we were driving back from the lake. It was crossing the road and when it became aware of the truck coming, it flared its hood for a second and then like a flash of lightning slithered away. A couple of days before, Steve had seen another one on the side of the road with its hood also flared. I sure wouldn't want to meet one up close and personal.

There are 3, what the kids call "crazy people" who live in the village close by. Tonight, during worship, a man all dressed up like a muslim "freedom fighter" slipped into our dining hall while we were singing a song during our worship time. His head and face were draped in a black cloth with only slits for his eyes to see through. He was wearing a black cloak and yellow print boxer shorts. On his head he had a head lamp and in one hand was a water scoop while in the other he carried a toy machine gun. As the kids continued to sing, he began to dance around and raised his gun into the air "shooting" it. I thought he was one of the older boys acting out some kind of object lesson for the devotional, and as I had the video camera with me, I started recording this rather bazarre object lesson. When he knelt down in a professional military position for firing an automatic weapon and then aimed and fired at me, it was then that I realized something wasn't quite right. Steve got up at that point and also thinking it was one of the older boys, told him to stop; he had carried this charade far enough. It was then the kids began to shout out, "he's the crazy man--the crazy man". Steve escorted him down the hill and back to the village.

Someone put toilet paper down the western style toilet and plugged it up. No one seemed to know what to do to solve this problem so it waited until Cat got home from a medical run. Immediately she took charge--getting the special wire they use for these situations from the special place she keeps it stored at the hospital. Diving in, she quickly cleared the obstruction. "I've done this a few times, digging out the poop. Anyone want to take an apple from my hand now?" she says as she goes to wash. Margaret looks at me as Cat walks away and says, "We'd have called a plumber."

The boys are cleaning up the mess--all the kids work good when Cat's around--much less than that for the rest of the teachers when she's gone. They uncovered a centipede hiding under the bathroom sink. It's a big fat one and it takes quite a stomping from the bathroom floor squeegie before it's toast! Nagay said he was bitten by one once and almost died. Lots of things can really hurt you around here!

Tonight at dinner:
"Are you really going tomorrow?" Cher eh Moo asks me.
"Yes," I say.
"You come back?"
"Yes, we come back."
"When you come back?"
"I don't know, but we will come back."
"I miss you teacha."
"I will miss you too, Cher eh Moo."

Margaret washing Ethamoo's hair

Margaret took it upon herself to erradicate head lice from Bamboo School--at least for a day or two. Yesterday afternoon, she was combing and picking and applying the insecticide. Today at the lake, she took each child and shampooed their hair, then sent them into the lake to rinse off. Some of the girls came back for a couple of shampoos--she even got the boys shampooed. The boys don't seem to have a problem with the lice.

Cement mixing tub turned kayak

The kids use anything that floats for a "personal flotation device"--whether it's a bamboo pole, or an empty jug tucked under their shirt or a string of empty water bottles all tied together around their waist. They swim across the lake courageously with their dubious supports. I've wondered about their chosen floatation devices failing and what would happen then, but so far my worries have been groundless.

A favorite among the boys is to take the cement mixing tubs and use them like a kayak, paddling them with a bamboo pole. If anything, the kids are certainly creative and resourceful. One of the boys, I think it was Pordah or maybe Aglutoo, took a black plastic trash bag and turned it into a diving bell! I saw him going out into the water with this bag and my first thought as he wrapped himself up in it was, "get that bag away from that boy--he can suffocate wrapped up in it like that," but before I could act, I saw the bag puff up with air and then the bag began moving out across the lake. In a few minutes a little brown head pokes out the side and the bag is refreshed with air and away they go again. I don't recommend any of my grandchildren try this stunt!

Steve and MorMorChore collecting rocks

Last night around 9:30pm I passed the most favorite after hours gathering spot and Hannah, Ray, Ayelle, Janelle, Rochell, Amy, Kwala, Darkoo and a few others were singing and playing the guitar and laughing and I stopped for a moment to listen and then came on up to my house and crawled into bed.
I must be getting old!

January 14
40 hours after we left Bamboo School we landed at the San Francisco airport. Whew! what a trip.
It's cold and wet at home and it feels and looks like it has been cold and wet for a while. We are slowly getting our feet back under us - readjusting our body clocks and digging warm jackets and wool socks out of the winter clothes box. It's interesting to note that when we left for Thailand we were thinking warmth for that was our reflection of our northern California environment, but in Thailand we needed our summer options for the weather was high 80's - low 90's with humidity. On our return my thinking was still a product of my environment, carry the light jacket - pack the warm one, no need for socks - wear my Tevas. When we landed in Japan it was 29 degrees F and the airport was cold and the rest of the trip didn't get much warmer. Our environment seems to produce tremendous impact on our thinking. Upon returning home we were bombarded with news reports of the shooting in Tucson and everybody and his brother's interpretation of the long and the short-term political and religious effects of this event. We, as a people, have a tendency to get so wrapped up in the events of our environment that we tend to lose sight of the bigger picture. And in my opinion the bigger picture is this; Matthew 10:6-10 "but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey or even two tunics, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support."

It's good to get out of one's accustomed environment every now and then and be reminded of what the truly important things are.
Thank you Bamboo School for helping us remember what Yashua was all about and what we as His followers should be all about. We love you and miss you terribly already!!

To everyone who supported us with prayer during our journey we are so grateful and thankful to YHVH for you! May YHVH continue to hold you in the palm of His hand where He has promised that the enemy cannot snatch you away!

Blessings!
Shirley and Steve

Communities of Like-Minded Believers - Is It Possible?

2010-11-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

Our younger son and family are in Australia – what a sad event for us! But they are safe and well-rested and looking for a house and vehicle and all the things that put together life in a new environment. We went right up to spend some time with our older son and family in Idaho – what soothing balm they were for us, excited, ‘I’m so glad you’re here, I love you so much” grandchildren to help ease the heartache of missing other loved ones.

I am including a portion of a “prophetic word” given by Sarah Menet, the woman who prophesied the 911 disaster, because I believe this word ties into the need for gathering together that some are beginning to feel compelled toward. (We do not know this woman nor have we researched her previous prophetic messages - we are including this portion only for it's revelance to our subject.)

“As I looked upon this scene of chaos, smoke and destruction I noticed that there were small pockets of light scattered over the United States. There were, I would guess, about twenty or thirty of them that I saw. I noticed that most of the locations of light were in the western part of the United States, with only three or four of them being in the east. These places of light seemed to shine brightly through the darkness and were such a contrast to the rest of the scene that they caught my attention. I focused on them for a moment and asked, 'What are these things?'

“I was then able to see that these points of light were people who had gathered together and were kneeling in prayer. The light was actually coming from the people, and I understood that the light was showing forth their goodness and love. I further understood that they gathered together for safety and that, contrary to what I had witnessed everywhere, they cared more for each other than for themselves. Some of the groups were small with only a hundred people or so, but other groups consisted of what seemed to be thousands.

I realized that many, if not all, of these places of light, or cities of light as I began to think of them, had somehow been established just before the biological attack, and that they were very organized. It was as if they had known what was coming and had prepared for it. I did not see who or what had organized them, but I did see many people struggling to reach them with nothing but what they could carry.

The cities of light had food that others outside of those groups did not have, and within the cities of light food was readily shared with those who joined their groups. In these places there was peace and safety. The inhabitants were living in tents of all kinds, many of which were no more than blankets held up by poles. I noticed that the gangs made no threats on these groups and left them completely alone, choosing to pick on other targets and unprotected people, as many of the people in those cities had guns that they would use for self-defense. The gangs also preyed upon the people who were traveling, trying to reach the cities of light.

As I looked upon them, I realized that these cities of light were temporary and that in a short time the people living within them would go to another place. I do not know where they were to go but seemed to think that they gathered in the mountains, to higher places." (Sarah Menet)

We stumbled upon a piece of property last week when we were in Idaho visiting our kids that would make a great place for like-minded people to gather together and live in community. It’s in a short-sale situation right now and possibly could be picked up for less than the listed price. Seven families going together on this purchase would be an investment of $50,000 (on the high side) per family. Here’s the link for anyone that may be interested: http://www.flexmls.com/link.html?rnmpbq5pdwp,7,1

This link will no longer be available after 12/16/2010

DISCLAIMER: As we have said in previous postings YHVH is going to gather His kids from the four corners of the earth – He is going to do it, He just asks us to walk with Him, hearing His voice and obeying His instructions. Is preparation part of His instructions? We believe yes. Is gathering together part of His instructions? We believe yes. Is the entire world going to be judged? We believe yes. Is there any “safe” place? We believe the only safe place is dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. Is Israel still the center of YHVH'S activities and where His children will be gathered? Yes, Israel is the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by YHVH - it is the place of the promised inheritance.

Several items have come to our attention lately, one being that Idaho is ranked in the top of the list for best all-round places to be for the now and up-coming cataclysmic events befalling the US and the world. Another is an article relating how to approach and look for potential community members – you solicit people for the assets they can bring to your situation, in other words you look for people that fill needs that you have, whether that need be a medical person or a plumber. Another is the prophecy that I posted a portion of at the beginning of this blog. (And not to mention our governments shenanigans.)

A new thought came to me the other day when a friend mentioned how people need to know how to do things that will make them more self-sufficient. What about using the cell-church concept? A community is begun that has people knowledgeable in carpentry skills (including plumbing, electrical etc), gardening skills and food preservation, animal husbandry (goats, sheep, chickens, etc), clothing manufacture, hunting, mechanical, and medical / dental. This is your core group. From this core group you grow until you have enough people/families with the needed skill sets to divide and create another community and so on and so forth. To keep the communities on the smaller side – say 30 to even a 100 would help the dynamics stay more intimate and manageable.

Now, let’s talk about the ‘M’ word, money. Let’s face it, right now almost everything that we do requires money, even to drive to fellowship gatherings requires money to put fuel in the vehicle to get there, so it is unrealistic to think that a community can be started or supported without money.

Say you want to be part of a community you have skills, but no money. A couple of options: you seek to join a community that is up and running and has developed a community income source where you can use your skill set in exchange for money or you can engage in conversation with a planning phase community that has interested parties who have money above and beyond the determined family share and will agree to act as a “bank” and meet your share until such a time as the community develops an income source where a share of your portion will go to paying back your “loan”. Don’t be afraid to think creatively and find other options for making community-life a reality for you. We need to realize that all these transactions need to be conducted in a professional, business manner based on Torah principles. Yashua said He did not entrust Himself to any man for He knew the heart of man, but He left us with the command, “the world will know you are my disciples by the love you have for one another.” When we think that everyone will just do the right thing because after-all we are Torah pursuant – we are falling into the trap of entrusting ourselves to fallen man and not abiding in the arms of YHVH. When we entrust ourselves to others and they disappoint our expectations in some way as they inevitably will, we most often find ourselves in the place of bearing resentment, anger, hate, frustration etc., and it’s hard to be obedient to Yashua’s command in that condition – hence the need for clarity and specifics.

It just seems like it is “gathering together” time. What would keep you from gathering together? My personal opinion is, it’s the Home Depot store motto; Do It Yourself. We all have our ideas, we want it to happen according to our ideas. The trouble with that is everyone has their ideas and I’m sure my ideas are better than your ideas and so we stay single and isolated or we end up fighting when we try it. A single stick is easily broken, scripture says, but a bundle of sticks is not easily broken. Which one are you?

We have come to the firm conclusion over the course of many experiments that a multiple owner, community trust of property ownership is best. It keeps people engaged in finding solutions to difficulties – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. Like marriage, you made a commitment not easily walked away from.

Multiple communities forming are the multiple points of light described in the above “prophecy.” Are we willing to give up our agendas for HIS plan. Choices are being stripped from us daily; make your choice while there is still time to act. We encourage you to become community minded today!

I haven’t talked about the prayer and worship aspect of forming and being a part of a community, they are paramount and will also be discussed in another posting.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

S & S

The Last Wave

2010-11-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

November 11, 2010

Oswald Chamber’s devotional My Utmost for His Highest has been a source of counsel, wisdom, and insight for us over the years. It is uncanny how often it seems that just what we needed for the situation of the present moment is found on the page of that day’s reading. It was once again true of November 11: “If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace; if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him. If the providential order of God for you is a hard time of difficulty, go through with it, but never choose the scene of your own martyrdom. …If you are not living in touch with Him, it is easy to pass a crude verdict on God. You must go through the crucible before you have any right to pronounce a verdict, because in the crucible you learn to know God better. God is working for His highest ends until His purpose and man’s purpose become one.”

11p.m. Wednesday evening our younger son and his wife and two young children boarded an airplane for Australia, not just to visit, but to take up residence. This was a bitter cup for us to drink. Last year when I was so sick in Israel, my heavenly Abba came to me in a moment of sweetness and whispered, “Your life is a parable, do you understand that?” There were some things I immediately understood of my life by looking through that lens, but mostly the understanding that has come is to drink what’s in the cup in communion with Him, and generally drinking the cup is difficult. They announced to us months ago that they were planning on relocating to Australia, we knew this time was coming, but how can you think about something like that? Then the shipping company showed up Monday morning and by Tuesday evening the container was packed and on its way to the port and the ship that would carry their household goods so far away. Our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter was dancing through the house squealing with glee over the prospects of “camping” again, as pillows were arranged on the floor for her makeshift bed and mommy and daddy moved their air mattress into her room. She patted the pillows and said, “here grandma, you sleep here by me.” And I, knowing that this was the last night I would read her a story and say prayers with her and tuck her in bed and lay my head next to hers, my sadness I swallowed in the presence of her innocent joy. Her 6 month old little brother wakes from his nap and I go to take him from his bed and when he sees me his eyes light up like diamonds and that big, toothless grin splits his face, how can I bear not to see that look of recognition again? Oh, this cup is bitter!

Every mother who raises a son dreams of the girl her son will marry. My son’s wife has become like my own daughter, as we pack the bags that will go on the plane with them how can I bear this separation? We walk through the airport together, our arms around each other, tears streaming down our faces, you’re the daughter-in-law every mother dreams about, I say to her as I kiss her cheek.

Our son, so tall and strong and handsome is wiping his eyes as his dad blesses him. They’ve spent countless hours together, working, talking, sharing dreams, how can I bear not to see them together, to watch our son cuddle his son to sleep or toss his daughter over his shoulder and hear her squeals of pure enjoyment as she calls out, “gain daddy, gain.”

We’ve let each other go as they have a plane to catch, we’ve waited and embraced each other as long as we possibly dare, the last whiff of baby’s breath has been caught and the last press of small hands has been grasped and then they are no longer in our reach, the security people have them. “What’s the matta,” the little girl asks, concern in her voice as she sees her mother’s tear-stained face. “Mommy’s sad,” her mother answers, but the little girl is too excited about the plane ride to spend more than a few seconds on everyone’s sad, tear-stained faces. “Come here,” daddy calls as he lifts the carry-on bags onto the conveyor belt and then strips himself of belt and coins and watch and every other item that may set off the screening device. Shoes come off, the computer is out of the bag, baby is in mommy’s arms, and the little girl runs ahead, it’s such a grand adventure. We blow kisses and wave hands at each other until we can’t see them anymore and still Steve and I stand just behind the security fence waiting, hoping for just one more glimpse and yes, there it is the last wave. Our son, on the other side, through the crowd sees us and we see him and he lifts his hand high in the air – a final salute, we lift ours back to him, a moment, our eyes lock, we see his face is set, then he turns and he is gone. In that moment I think, is this anything like what YHVH feels as he watches us walk through the gate of time wondering will they come back, will they remember me, when will I see them again? Does His heart break, is this a bitter cup for Him to drink?

“Your life is a parable.” The cup is bitter, but He is drinking it with us and that is how we get through the difficult times. And the end of the story is… the prodigal comes home. We are all prodigals, we have all left home. And The Father is waiting and watching for the return of His beloved children. He never stops waiting, He never stops watching. He has the ring and the new clothes and a party is ready – waiting, just for you.

Because of Him,

Shirley & Steve

Standing in the Gap

2010-10-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

October 27, 2010

Yesterday Steve and I drove to Nevada to spend the day in prayer; praying on-site with insight, the old prayer-walkers mantra. We were going at the compelling of the Ruach haKodesh. Our morning devotions had been from the books of Ezekiel and Revelation and the upshot of this time was a renewing of the fact that there are only two seeds; the seed of hasatan and the seed of the woman which is Yashua haMeshiach. Hasatan’s seed is referred to in a number of different ways in scripture, but during this particular devotional time we were concentrating on the babylon reference. There are those that refer to the United States as babylon, for a while we were part of this group, but our heavenly Father has opened our understanding to realize that everywhere hasatan plants his seed is “babylon” for there are only two seeds. Can the US only be Babylon and Europe not, or China not, or Africa not, or Russia not, or…? We who have bought into the understanding that the US is babylon to the exclusion of any other country – I am afraid that most of us have taken on a pacifist, ce-sera-sera attitude, whatever, I’m on the next flight out of here anyway. Yesterday I was shown how wrong and deceived that attitude of mind is – in fact it is no better than awaiting the pre-tribulation rapture. We are ALL going to go through some level of tribulation, it has been laid out for us in the feast cycle of YHVH, and our Elohim does not change His mind as a man changes his, He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Back to the drive to Nevada - we were going to pray about the mid-term elections, we knew that was our assignment, but we didn’t yet know how to pray. During the two plus hour drive to the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe we sought the Father for direction and His revelation wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and discernment to understand and follow His leading. Whenever we leave in the car we ask the Father to protect our journey, to keep evil far from us that we might not be harmed or bring harm to anyone else, so it was a startling shock when a small fist-sized rock came hurtling at us and smashed a great concentric circle in the middle of our windshield. Both of us were quite shaken by this for if the rock had come through the glass the outcome of this story could have been quite different. This incident let us know that the mission we were on was a serious one and carried great consequences. The scripture from Ezekiel comes to mind, “YHVH looked for a man to stand in the gap on behalf of the land and found none.” We were determined to not be the fulfillment of that scripture for our intended day of prayer, and we continued on, but definitely sobered.

The day was cool, but we found a sheltered place on a boulder-strewn beach with our faces to the sun for warmth and Steve got out the flute and I began to pray from the Psalms. After awhile I noticed that Steve had his Bible open and I asked him what he was reading, he said nothing and I said well your Bible is open to some passage and he said the wind blew it open. What did the wind blow it open to, I asked, maybe we should read that portion. When we began to read the passages from Exodus 7, the direction for the day began to reveal itself. Moses and Aaron are told by YHVH to go before Pharaoh and demand that he let the children of Israel go. As the story continues Pharaoh hardens his heart through nine requests which brings much devastation on the land of Egypt, but works to consolidate the hearts and minds of the Israelites until at the last they are ready to leave the land of their sojourn for the land of promise. Our going to Nevada had everything to do with the mid-term elections. We knew that when we left home, what we didn’t know was how to pray. We believe the Father directed us to pray for “Moses’ and Aaron’s” to go before Pharaoh and demand a release for YHVH’S people.

The man who occupies the oval office is a “Pharaoh who does not know Joseph”. Already his government’s policies are depicting similar scenarios as described in the story of Exodus. So, if the story line continues we should expect “Moses and Aaron” types to stand before this “Pharaoh” proclaiming the will of YHVH. As is recorded in the Exodus story we should also expect a hardening of Pharaoh’s heart which will mean much devastation to be poured out on this country as YHVH works to get His people in place for their exodus from “Egypt” to the land of promise. Let us not be dismayed or disheartened or lose faith in the One who Redeems and Delivers and Restores. Look up, dear friends for indeed, our Redemption does draw nigh!

During this week before Election Day, November 2, will you stand in the gap for YHVH’s people, will you pray for “Moses and Aaron” types to be sent to Washington to stand before “Pharaoh” and declare the will of YHVH? As Moses and Aaron were given the words to say, so to, as the story continues, will these new voices be given words to say. We must pray for the voters to be bold and be strengthened and also chose to stand in the gap, we must pray that the deceptions of the enemy will be shown up for what they are, we must pray for the Light that dispels the darkness. Pray that the Light will surround the workers of darkness thus exposing their evil deeds. Yashua said in John 3:20-21; “For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” Pray that the people may see the truth for it is the Truth that sets us free!

Because of Him!

P.S. We cannot afford to continue in a pacifist attitude. Yashua confronted the demonic agenda head-on. We must follow His lead remembering that we "struggle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies."

The spirit of control vs. self-control

2010-10-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

Steve made it back to the states from Israel and we are together in Florida celebrating with my dad his 80 years of life. We leave Thursday for California where we will be engaging full-swing helping our younger son and family get ready for their move to Australia. Steve has a good report of the land, and I am sure he will be sharing some of his news and views as time goes on – right now though, he is trying to get his body clock set back on US time!

That was last week’s news! Now we are home, getting ready for the rainy season here in California and getting as much grandparent time in as possible before we leave for out-of-country ministry in December/January. It is a couple of busy months ahead for us and we would appreciate your prayers as we navigate through this time. We’ll update our traveling calendar soon.

Unity seems to be on lips everywhere one turns these days, both in the secular and the religious communities, but just what does that word mean – UNITY? Some things have happened in our life that has given me a new perspective on this word, I will try and communicate to you what I believe the Ruach is communicating to me. It’s changed my life and the way I view life, and I pray that you will receive a revelation from the Father that will be change (we can truly believe in) to you as well. It is a case of the spirit of control vs. the fruit of self-control. The spirit of control is about controlling one’s environment, but self-control is about controlling me so I can live in my environment.

Galatians 5:22-23, tells us that the fruit of the Ruach haKodesh indwelling us is: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” The spirit of control is also found in scripture. The story of Felix in Acts 24:24-27 is an example of the spirit of control trying to manipulate the environment to achieve its ends vs., YHVH’s plans and purposes. YHVH always uses everything for His good purpose, but how much better when we live in the fruit of the Ruach, hearing and obeying the will of YHVH.

Now, let me try and put a little flesh on this. Self-control leads to true UNITY, the spirit of control only leads to division. Why? Because every person wants to control their environment, i.e., the people and circumstances around them instead of being self-controlled so they can live and prosper in their environment with each other in the unity of the Ruach haKodesh. Think about all the church splits, friendship splits, divorces, partisanship, alienated children, country take-over’s and nation splits. Now put all these examples in context of the spirit of control vs. self-control. Why do parents kick under-age children out of their homes? Could it be that the home environment is one under a spirit of control and self-control has never been taught or modeled so personal spaces clash and division erupts. Why do fellowships split? The way you worship doesn’t fit into my environment – how I think worship should be conducted, therefore I am going to leave and not just leave, but I’ll slander you in my leaving. Protestants vs. Catholics, Fundamentalist vs. Charismatic, Shabbat vs. Sunday, we can barely stand each other. The spirit of control is having a heyday because of the perceived need to control our environment to achieve our goals. Opposing controlled environments are bumping up against each other and it’s more natural to isolate than practice the fruit of the Ruach and self-control no matter what the environment. Yashua was the Master of self-control, it didn’t matter what circumstance He found Himself in He always exhibited the fruit of the Ruach haKodesh – He was the epitome of self-control.

The world is ripe for a hostile take-over. The spirit of control has weaseled its way into the very fabric of life as we know it. We think we are doing YHVH’S service when we slander our brothers and sisters because they are not doing what we think they should be doing. We use certain texts in Scripture to elevate our position and cast dispersions on fellow sojourners. Among believers who has total understanding of All Truth? Are we so anxious to usurp Yashua’s place that we become judge and jury? Have we not read lately that by what measure you judge it shall be measured back to you, pressed down, shaken together, running over? This doesn’t apply just to the good things from YHVH’S hand. What did Yashua say – didn’t it go something like this; they will know you are my disciples by the LOVE you have one for another?

It’s time to wake up dear friends and reject the spirit of control and ask, plead, beg for the infilling of the Ruach haKodesh in the fullness of everything He has for us so that we might “escape and endure to the end.” Revelation 12:11; 19:8,14, “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death. And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, where following Him on white horses.” Fine linen, white and clean is evidenced by the fruits of the Ruach haKodesh working in our lives, not the spirit of control, or hatred or anger or jealousies or resentments or bitterness and the list goes on.

I control myself by the power of the Ruach living in me, trying to control my environment leads to a manifestation of bad fruit. Can you control people’s actions and behaviors? Yes, you can, but only through manifestations of manipulation and control. Can I control my actions and behaviors no matter what environment I am in? Yes, I can, through the power of the Ruach haKodesh living in me I can turn the other cheek, I can walk an extra mile, I can lend my coat, I can be patient and kind and gentle and peaceable and loving. I can control my tongue, my thoughts, my modesty, my appetite. I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me! Philippians 4:13.

It is time to stop blaming everyone else for our troubles and take a peek under the covers of our lives to see just what may be hiding there that is keeping us from the perfect and pure will of Elohim. And the definition of GRACE that I really enjoy: The empowering presence of YHVH in my life enabling me to BE all that He created me to BE so that I might DO all that He has for me to DO.

Paul and Barnabas couldn’t agree on taking Mark along on their missionary journey so they parted company and Silas joined Paul and Barnabas went with Mark. Is it recorded that they slandered each other, or split the congregation because of their opposing views? Near the end of his life Paul calls for Mark while he is a prisoner in Rome and he calls him a good servant. So the inference is that they practiced self-control, allowing the Ruach to work out His good timing in their lives, instead of personal environments clashing leading to division. Let us take this example to heart and learn to be self-controlled in our disagreements, maintaining that we will be known by the love we have for one another. Yashua is going to be teaching us Torah for a thousand years, He will instruct us in all of His Truth. The commission He has given us is to share the gospel to all the world. How? When the world knows we are His disciples by the love we have for one another.

Bless you,

Shirley & Steve

The Web

2010-10-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

The Web

I have been asked on numerous occasions to write out this understanding of the web of haSatan and I am finally attempting to do so. If after you read the following and you have questions feel free to contact me and I’ll try and help with whatever clarification I might be able to give.

haSatan is working hard to make sure the entire world bows down to him in worship and allegiance to him is quite evident; on the streets, in the schools, among the leaders of government and industry. He captures people’s allegiance through enticement by worldly pleasures, lust of the eyes and the flesh. Romans 1:29 details haSatan’s allurements even more completely; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. These things are activities that people engage in with a conscious choice. I call them the front two windows of your house; window one - things that you and YHVH know about you, and window two – things that you and YHVH and others know about you. This is the arena of curses, soul ties, generational iniquities, things that you know and can deal with, if you chose to, openly. But there are also two windows in the back of your house/ mind where activity goes on that you are not (necessarily) aware of. These windows are: what only God knows about you and what God and others know about you, but you are not aware of. This is where haSatan weaves his web and snares the unaware and unsuspecting (most effectively) just like a spider weaves its web. Let’s think about a spider web for a moment. Have you ever gone outside in the morning only to walk through a spider web that was not there the evening before and half an hour later when you came back that way there was the spider web in your path again? You brushed it away once but the tenacity and perseverance of the spider remade its web in record time. Have you ever watched a fly get caught in the spider’s web? The fly gets tangled in the fine threads of the web and soon here comes the spider to wrap up the fly – immobilizing it, leaving it to marinate for a future meal. When a second fly is caught in the spider’s web and the spider comes out to immobilize that fly the entire web is affected by the spider’s actions, is it not? So now, let us put this analogy into practical terms for us: haSatan and his minions are constantly weaving webs for the specific purpose of immobilizing us – he does not want us to be or do kingdom activities. If he can’t get to us through the front of our house he is very effective at getting to us through the back of our house. Question: have you ever begun your day in fine spirits only suddenly to find a black mood has dropped over you - out of nowhere? Where did that come from? I submit to you that you were experiencing being caught in the web – either fresh caught yourself or feeling the effects of haSatan’s movement on the web as he wraps up another victim. haSatan is constantly weaving webs; in this space in history I believe it is virtually impossible to not be effected by his web making, but here is the good news – we don’t have to remain trapped, YHVH has provided a way of escape! Here is what YHVH shared with us a few years ago that has made such a difference for us and actually everyone to this date that we have shared this simple tool with.

When you realize that you are entangled in one of haSatan’s webs and by this I mean when you wake up to the fact that you are not being the reflection of Yashua, or behaving like the born-again, Ruach filled, known as a disciple of Messiah by the love you have for your husband, wife, child, friend, neighbor, stranger in your gate, or living in the fruits of the Ruach haKodesh; you must at that moment stop and ask YHVH to sever you out of haSatan’s web. If you delay one moment you are only furthering your own misery – for haSatan only comes to steal, kill and destroy.

This is the first half of the prayer YHVH taught us to pray: Abba, I am caught in a web, I realize I have said and done unkind things that are not pleasing to you or edifying to my family, friends, (etc.). Please forgive me for indulging in self-pity, depression, despondency, despair, rejection, (whatever it is that you are indulging in at this moment), and please sever me out of this web of haSatans. I pray that you would sever any and all unholy, unrighteous web line connections between myself and ___________.

Example: myself and my husband; myself, my husband, my child, my child’s wife. Myself and the postman or the grocery store clerk or the airline ticket counter agent, anyone that you had a connection with at the time you realize you are caught in a web.

(Remember how a web works, all the threads are connected, you need to pray through the connections, to pray for someone to be severed out of the web that you don’t have a connection to would be practicing witchcraft in my opinion.)

You are praying about Unholy, UN righteous web line connections to be severed – you are not asking for relationships to be severed. Asking for the unholy, unrighteous connections to be severed will, you will find surprisingly enough, provide space for wonderful things to happen. The first wonderment will be in YOU! Your attitude will change, immediately. Look for it – let yourself be surprised!

When this revelation was being revealed to us, I asked for something in scripture to ground this. I was taken to Genesis and the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When they ate of the forbidden tree they had to leave the garden and a cherubim with a flaming sword was stationed at the entrance of the garden to make sure they stayed out. What the Ruach shared with me is the second part of the severing out of the web prayer. Is 58:11 and Jer 31:12, refer to us as a garden and this is the symbolism we are going to us in the second half of this prayer.

The second part of the prayer YHVH taught us to pray: Abba, thank you for removing the unholiness, unrighteousness from my garden, thank you for stationing a holy Cherubim at the entrance of my garden to preserve the purity of my garden and to stand as a guard to prevent the unholiness, unrighteousness from coming back into my garden. I thank you, for you are trustworthy and merciful, abounding in patience and loving-kindness to a thousand generations of those that love you. Thank you for loving me and hearing and answering my prayer for deliverance - because of the shed blood of Yashua. Amen

It’s simple and very effective. This understanding and prayer is a well-used arrow in my arsenal of spiritual warfare tools.

Blessings!

40 Day Transitions

2010-10-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

40 days is symbolic of many things in scripture, the two most common examples are: the flood when the skies poured forth rain for 40 days and 40 nights and Yashua in the wilderness for 40 days and nights. Other examples include Moses on the Mount with YHVH for 40 days and nights; the 12 spies of Israel sent to search out the promised land for 40 days; for 40 days the Philistine, Goliath taunted Saul and his army; Elijah when he was fed by the angel of YHVH went in the strength of that food for 40 days to the mount of Horeb; YHVH tells Ezekiel to lie on his right side for the house of Judah for 40 days; Jonah prophesies that Nineveh will be overthrown in 40 days; Yashua was seen for 40 days after his resurrection from the dead; all of these examples of 40 involve transition – a passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another: CHANGE. When Steve and I decided to split our efforts this fall festival season we did not realize that from the day he left for Israel until the day he gets on the plane to return to the US would be 40 days.

Jeremiah 6:16 says: Thus says YHVH, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls.”

Yashua said in Matthew 11:28-30: Come unto Me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

At the turn of this new century I laid down my counseling ministry when it became apparent to me that I was learning and practicing the “good” methods of man instead of seeking out the “best” revelations of YHVH. I finally found myself in the place of the disciples who asked Yashua, “why couldn’t we cast it out?” Yashua’s response is so revealing, “this kind comes out only by prayer.” In other words – Shirley’s translation - YHVH is Light, He invites us to dwell in His Light, darkness cannot abide in His Light. It’s all about relationship. Have I allowed the Ruach haKodesh to transform my life from darkness to Light? Have I allowed myself to be refined as silver is refined until there is no dross left? The spirit of Elijah is stirring across the land, turning the hearts of the children back to the hearts of their fathers – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is the ancient path, this is where rest is, this is the revelation of Yashua haMeshiach, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

When I lost most of my hearing in my left ear last year while we were in Israel, the Ruach communicated to me that this was going to be a time to learn to hear with spiritual ears, I will be physically limited as to what I can hear verbally, but as I listen to the Ruach I will hear in the Spirit. I confess that this has been a difficult and frustrating journey. I want to hear with my physical ears what is being spoken and that is not possible for me in crowded, noisy settings and sometimes even in quiet places. I know people who have hearing lose understand. So, in the very noisy Jerusalem Marketplace, a woman I did not know comes up to my table and says, “You do inner-healing prayer, I need you to pray for me about my sister.”

I had come to this Sukkot to speak for the Women’s Luncheon, to offer our CD’s in the marketplace, and be generally refreshed – that was my plan. At this Feast of Tabernacles I found myself, quite frankly, in a place I never expected, people out of the blue coming and asking for inner-healing prayer and counsel.

“What do I do, Abba?”

My mind began reviewing all the old techniques that I had laid down so long ago – she was so expectant, I was catching odd little snippets of her need, while my mind was carrying on a conversation with the Ruach that went a little like this; “I can’t really hear her, we are in the Marketplace with people all around and she is pouring out her desperation and I have nothing for her. Why now, why here, how did she even know me. Remember, I don’t do this anymore.”

Then that gentle, comforting, but firm with insistence, voice of the Ruach comes tumbling over the distractions of my mind, “Hear her spirit, listen to her with your spiritual ears.”

“Oh, it’s not about me is it?” “Okay then, what are YOU saying?”

She later told me that she hadn’t come for herself and hadn’t even realize that she had a need, but what happened was just what she needed and such a great peace and comfort now filled her soul. I caught glimpses of her from time to time during the remainder of the feast and she was changed, from what I first perceived in her – sorrow and fear – to hope, contentment and joy, and it wasn’t because of any technique I employed. The Ruach did the work of transformation; I was just the vessel He chose to pour Himself through to her. If this had happened once during the feast I would have said, what a blessing to be so used and left it at that, but this scenario kept repeating itself during the 7 days of the feast. What this means I have confidence that YHVH will keep His promise of Psalm 138:8; “YHVH will accomplish what concerns me; thy loving kindness O YHVH is everlasting; do not forsake the works of thy hands.”

YHVH is doing a new thing in the earth; He is positioning His people for great exploits. So the question is; are we willing to cross over from familiar to unfamiliar; from what we know to what we don’t, where we are comfortable to uncomfortable? Shaking what can be shaken seems to be how YHVH most often works in the lives of men when He has a transition ready for us. Are you being shaken? Then look for the transition and welcome it, embrace it for the Master’s sake. The rewards are beyond description!

Sorry there are no pictures of the beautiful Feast of Tabernacles or Israel, but our camera has retired and we have need of a new one. If anyone would like to help us with this need we would be much appreciative!
Bless you!

“When the Wicked Rise, Men Hide Themselves”

2010-08-06T16:35:00.000-07:00

I began writing this the last day of July, the last Shabbat of the month, only a few more weeks until fall feast time, and here it is the 6th of August and it is time to get on with it and post this thing! It is also drawing steadily closer to the time our son Micah and family leave for Australia. Your prayers are appreciated for them and for us!

A couple of days ago, Steve and I were reading in the Proverbs and this verse caught my attention; Proverbs 28:12 – “When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.” We have read this verse before as it has become our custom to read through the Proverbs every month, taking up Wisdom’s invitation to sit at her table nourishing ourselves at her bountiful feast, but until this particular reading I had no revelation understanding of this verse. The version Steve was reading used the word “diminish” where my version used “hide”. What a difference a word makes! In that second of hearing a wave of understanding flooded my mind. 1Kings 17-19 tells the story of Elijah, a perfect example of our Proverbs 28 verse. Always before when I had read Proverbs 28:12 my thoughts had been, “what does it mean to “hide”? Do you say nothing, do nothing, tuck yourself away in some secluded corner and wait for the winds to change? How does “hiding” work with Light overcoming darkness?”

Ahab was certainly a wicked king, yet YHVH sent Elijah to Ahab with a message that would have gotten him killed in its delivery if he had not been under YHVH's protection. Then for the prophetic duration of the message YHVH hid Elijah. At the end of this prophetic sentence Elijah has a powerful encounter with YHVH; miracles, victory, deliverance, vindication, only to be followed by him succumbing to a great depression of spirit. 1Kings 19:14, “And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

How did YHVH answer Elijah? He told him to go and anoint and appoint and then said, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”

The story of the children of Israel is one of doing righteously when a righteous king is on the throne and doing wickedly when a wicked king is ruling. This is the “diminishing” aspect of Proverbs 28:12. The nature of humanity is to go with the flow, not make waves, to be as “sheep led to the slaughter.” It takes courage and conviction and commitment to remain true to “revelation wisdom, knowledge and understanding”. As followers of the Way, the Truth and the Life, we are experiencing the “rise of wickedness” in our day; so the question for us becomes, “do I go with the flow, don’t make waves, or be one of the seven thousand that have not bowed the knee to Baal?” Elijah, because he allowed himself to be led of YHVH, was used as Daniel 11:32b describes; “but the people who know their Elohim will display strength and take action.”

Remember to remember Psalm 121:7-8; “YHVH will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. YHVH will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”
Blessings!

Call to Prayer During The Days of Awe

2010-07-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

We received a call from a friend the other day asking, “Where are you? We haven’t heard from you in awhile, you know we like your updates.”

Well, subtle hint or not we got the point – WRITE! And let us know what you are doing – so here goes.

It has been a busy summer. Maybe not as one would expect busy to be for The Peregrinnatti, but busy nonetheless! We went to Family Week West with the Waller’s in Colorado and we were so taken with the Tabernacle of David worship that Zac and Brayden Waller led each morning. This is turning out to be a major impact on how we are thinking and praying about putting together our own presentations. Mainly the new one that we are working on called “And I, John, Saw”. We are hoping to have this ready to present by the fall.

As many of you know, our younger son, Micah and his family are moving to Australia the first of November. They asked us to spend significant time with them this year and we have willingly and eagerly honored their request. This has, out of necessity, limited our time spent on the road visiting with all of you. But, we do not regret this decision as Australia is a long way away, not a two hour drive to visit the grandkids like it is right now.

Another thing that has been heavy on our hearts is the state of America and the heart of her citizens. I have written before about guarding yourself from becoming weary of/in the battle that rages around us. The enemy wants us to disengage, to grow weary, to fall asleep, to lay down our armor. I myself have at times said, “Abba, I don’t know how to pray anymore!” This morning Steve and I were reading in the book of Nehemiah chapter 8, about the returned exiles gathering on Yom Teruah and reading the Torah and continuing the gathering through Yom Kippor and Sukkot – reading the Torah and worshipping YHVH and repenting of their sins. Chapter 9 says they spent a fourth of the day reading from the book of the Torah and a fourth of the day they spent confessing and worshipping YHVH their Elohim. That’s 12 hours a day. A thought flooded my mind; what if we were to gather like that – read the Torah, worship and repent of our sins, individually and nationally for the 10 Days of Awe. Would we then go into the Festival of Sukkot with great rejoicing and anticipation of YHVH’s presence among us in real and tangible ways?!

Is this a YHVH idea to gather together to pray and worship and basically obey 2Chron 7:14 for ourselves and our national identity – Israel, during the Days of Awe?

The calendar we are using says that Yom Teruah begins September 9 and Yom Kippor is Sept 18, during these dates is the time known as the Days of Awe. As you are reading this do you sense the tug of the Holy Spirit to join in with this? Steve will be joining the Wallers in Israel for the harvest and the fall feasts, but I am being led to remain in the States during this time. If the Father’s will is to gather in the States and pray and worship and repent during the Days of Awe, the state of Nevada keeps coming to mind as a possible place to gather in. Just a few miles from the town of Ely, (eastern Nevada, on Hwy 50) is Cave Lake State Park that might work for a gathering. No large covered building, and no electricity, but they do have showers and flush toilets.

Please seek the Father about coming together for the Days of Awe to pray and worship and read His Word – to seek His Will for His people, His set-apart ones.

If the Father doesn’t lead us to a gathering in Nevada think and pray about doing a Days of Awe gathering in your local area. There is a great need at this time to gather and pray and worship and repent – both individually and nationally. This is an opportune time – the moedine of YHVH - in which to do this.

Now for a bit of personal news; we have leased our property to a couple with two young children for the next 30 months. They have already moved on site and are quite enthusiastic about getting the place in shape and seeing the land prosper. Already they have cleaned the weeds out of the asparagus bed and are eating the fruit of their labors and have planted a small garden. A goat has joined the family – more for weed control at this time – as well as another dog and cat. Their animals and ours have seemed to work out a living arrangement with their cat coming out as the Alpha!

Steve and I are keeping control of the underground house as our home during this time, but this arrangement has freed us up immensely. We can come and go as the need arises and not have to worry about things being cared for or left undone.

We just returned from spending two weeks with our son Micah and his family camping through the southwest, visiting the Grand Canyon, Santa Fe, southern Colorado, Capitol Reef National Park in Utah and then on home through Nevada. It was delightful spending such quality time with our kids and grandkids! The little ones grow up so fast – you want to catch what you can when you can! Jacob turned 3 months the 22nd of July and Isabelle is 2 years and 4 months. Jacob and Steve have quite a connection – Jacob will just look up at his grandpa and smile and smile at him, he’ll even quietly fall asleep in his arms – he really likes it when Steve plays his harp too. He seems fascinated by it! Isabelle is her own little lady/tomboy and lets everyone know what is on her mind. Oh, the joys of being two! Micah and Angela are great parents – our hats are off to them!!

When Steve was so sick this spring we were led to some information that has proved to be very helpful to us. I will post some web links here so in case you haven’t heard of these things you can become informed if you so chose.

http://www.sharinghealth.com/beckprotocol/contents.html
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=3879823462993133294
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=3494194760973110305 http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer02/BobBeck.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkCHrV6cCfw&feature=related

I will also let you know that we make these devices that are discussed on these web links. There are many sources on the internet where you can obtain these devices that help you get back your health, or you can build your own, but like one of our friends said, “maybe YHVH brought you to this information and gave you the skill and knowledge to make these as a benefit to the believing community and a way the believing community can help support you and The Peregrinnatti ministry.” Contact us if you have questions or if you would like to order one of the devices.

That’s it for now!

May YHVH continue to hold you in the palm of His hand.

What If?

2010-06-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

What if your life stopped being the way it has been your entire life to this point?

What if tomorrow morning when you woke up you suddenly realized that your life would never be the same again?

This can be taken two ways (at least):

1.) As in pre WW11 Holland, we go to bed one night with assurances that our world, as we know it, will be the same in the morning when we wake up. But surprise, in the morning we awaken to discover that hostile forces have taken over our country, the borders are closed and there is no way to escape the harshness and brutality that is being committed on those who do not submit.

2.) You are convicted by the power of the Ruach haKodesh to humble yourself, and pray, and seek YHVH’S Face, and turn from your wicked ways; then your life, out of the necessity of your decision to make Teshuva (to turn), will never be the same.

In both scenarios you have decisions to make – as Francis Schaeffer asked; “How then shall we live?”

The time is soon upon us, I believe, when we are going to be faced with both scenarios – a demonic invasion and the need to make Teshuva. It would be good to start making choices and decisions now, in preparation for the time that is soon upon us – if indeed it is not already here just waiting to manifest its presence.

In the parable of The 10 Virgins, all of the virgins fell asleep, but 5 had fallen asleep with adequate provision enabling them to join the bridal party when they heard the sound of the shofar. Have we been lulled to sleep by the constant bombardment of end-time teachers telling us the tribulation is right around the corner, but that particular corner has yet to appear? It was a favorite saying of my husband to our young boys when we went back-packing and they would ask, how much further? Just around the next bend in the trail, he would say. But the bends kept coming and the destination was still somewhere ahead. After awhile they would just sit down in the trail and refuse to go any farther. Steve would then go on ahead to the much anticipated camping place, remove his pack and then come back down the trail to help our young sons with their loads so they could make it to our destination, even carrying them if that was what was required. Likewise for many today, the trail has gotten long and many are weary, some may have become so weary that they have lain down in the path and have fallen asleep, but take heart, our Bridegroom has gone on ahead of us and he has promised to return for us. Keep persevering, hold fast to His commandments, sleep if you have to, but don’t leave the path – that’s the extra oil for your lamp. Sadly some have gone back to the old way of life putting that tribulation thing on a shelf. “Wake me up when it happens, until then I’m going back to my house, my family, my job, my favorite food, myself. I’ll be able to walk away from it all when I hear His call.” But will you? Will you even hear His call with the clamor of the world deafening your sensitivities to YHVH? Yashua said to keep watch, for you do not know the day or the hour. Keeping watch, living a fasted life-style is safety for us. Yashua asked the disciples to keep watch with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, but even they fell asleep. The consequence of their not maintaining watch was fear - with the eventual need for restoration. The bride of Messiah is to keep her wedding garments white – without stain or wrinkle, waiting for the day of his coming.

This brings me back to my “what if” questions.

It is quite common in our western, civilized culture to live in the land of “what if”. Allow me to give a few examples of what I mean.

• What if all these wars and earthquakes and terrible disasters are just more of the same, not really, now is the end-time, stuff?

• What if I leave everything to follow Yashua and He doesn’t provide for me?

• What if I quit my job and my spouse leaves me?

• What if I join lock, stock and barrel with this community of like-minded believers and then discover I don’t like them, or that we’re really not like-minded?

• What if I drop my health insurance to rely on YHVH and I get sick?

• What if I take all my money out of the beast system and then lose it?

• What if my children won’t come along with me?

• What if Yashua doesn’t return in the next few years?

• What if YHVH really isn’t who He says He is?

• What if America really isn’t Babylon?

• What if__________? And you fill in the blank.

As believers in Yashua haMeshiach, part of the grafting in of Romans 9-11, heirs according to the promise, Galatians 3:29, the land of promise given to Abraham in Genesis is our eventual place of residence. If this is true, as I believe it is, then why are we, as we see the end approaching, entrenching ourselves in the land of our exile. YHVH is shaking things up just like He did with the Israelites in Egypt. Why, because He is getting us ready for a journey. I was reading in the Psalms the other day and I was struck with a revelation in Psalm 78 of the progression of the Israelites from Egypt that it will be the same for us. We will experience some of the shaking of YHVH, but then we will be called out to gather into a place set aside for us like Goshen was set aside for the children of Israel in Egypt, (Exodus 8:22). The first three plagues of blood, frogs and lice were over the entire land, but from the fourth plague on those dwelling in the land of Goshen were protected from the devastation of the plagues in Egypt. If you remained outside of Goshen more of what you had just experienced would befall you. YHVH will bless you with His protection in that one particular place where He shelters us under His wings. It is even recorded that when the plague of darkness came the children of Israel living in Goshen had light in their homes. During the plagues the Israelites were not removed from Egypt, but they were protected. This is the message behind Psalm 91:14-16; “because he has loved me therefore I will deliver him, I will set him securely on high because he has known My Name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him, and let him behold my Yashua.”

From Goshen, where He gathers us, He will lead us into the wilderness. In the wilderness of the first exodus, the children of Israel became a people – a unit. They became betrothed to YHVH and they learned what pleased Him, by being instructed in His ways. YHVH says to, “be holy as I am holy,” Lev 11:44. The same pattern will follow for us. We too will be taken into the wilderness (Revelation 12:6) and in that place we will become a people – the bride of Yashua, we will be instructed in what pleases Him, becoming holy as He is holy. And from the wilderness we will enter the land of promise.

Here’s a possible scenario to think about, I’m not saying this is what is going to happen, I am just presenting this to maybe help you put in focus your “what ifs”:

The nations that are raging at Israel this moment are pretty much listed in Psalm 83. This is a war psalm, an entreaty to YHVH to deal with these war mongers Himself. According to the Geneva Convention an aggressor nation, in the event of winning an armed conflict, has to give back all lands that it acquired during the conflict, but the non-aggressor nation, in the event it wins the armed conflict can keep all the lands it acquired during the conflict. What if this Psalm 83 war is the prophecy that is preparing to be fulfilled, perhaps this summer? And what if in this war Israel is granted land from all these aggressor nations by YHVH? And what if the whistle then comes from YHVH for us to come home to Israel and be the fulfillment of Ezekiel 37? Could this be our Goshen until the abomination that makes desolate is set-up in the temple and at that time we flee as commanded into the wilderness? According to the word of Yashua in Matthew 24:32-33; he talks about the nation of Israel being reborn as a fig tree nation; when you see that know that summer is near. (See “Fig Tree vs. Olive Tree” at Articles on our website: http://www.biblicalstoryteller.com/. When is the return of Messiah according to the feasts of YHVH? His return is in the fall, the time of Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets. The nation of Israel we see today is the fig tree nation Yashua told us would come before his appearing, and he also said, the generation that witnesses this rebirth would not pass away until the Son of Man returns. Recognizing this present fig tree Israel as Goshen and the world as Egypt, it is then the only place where we will be kept in true peace and safety while the rest of the world tosses and turns in the foment of “A New World Order”. Are we prepared for YHVH to change our life that completely? What would keep you from answering His whistle? What are your “what ifs?”

Again, the above described scenario is my thoughts. It is included in this writing to help encourage you to think out and pray about decisions that we all may be soon called upon to make.

Note: YHVH prepared a place in the wilderness where He met ancient Israel and betrothed Himself to her; so too is YHVH preparing a place for us today in the wilderness, where, according to the type, He will meet with us and marry Himself to us. If this happens to be what comes about, I for one don’t want any “what ifs” I may be harboring to cause me to miss out on the greatest feast celebration in all of history!

Remain in your place on the wall, stay vigilant, have your lamps ready, so you will hear the call when it comes and like Samuel will respond, Hineni, here am I.

I am forwarding a link that you might find interesting as you consider what might keep you from hearing and responding to the whistle of YHVH.

http://www.america-in-prophecy.org/_____THE_GREAT_ABYSS_SAN222.html

Facing the Giants

2010-06-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

During our time in Colorado at Family Week West the Ruach shared with me some revelations about the life of David and his encounter with the giant Goliath. Family Week topics revolved around restoring the headship of the family and empowering the family through its individuals being filled with the Holy Spirit to live an over-coming life. I was on the schedule to share at the Women’s Edification afternoon and the Ruach laid it heavily on my heart to talk about the giants that we face – comparing our struggles to the story surrounding David and Goliath. Like on that day I am compelled to share with you the insights that have been shared with me concerning this story. This is a long update – blessings in your perseverance!

Beginning the story in 1Samuel 16:12; David is anointed king over Israel by the prophet Samuel. David walked in the power of the Ruach as evidenced by the fact that whenever he played his harp for Saul the evil spirit that was tormenting Saul left. It wasn’t just the skillful playing of David that caused the evil spirit to leave Saul, but the fact that David was anointed of YHVH, and the Holy Spirit was mightily upon him, (vs.13). Where light is darkness cannot be – for light dispels the darkness. I John 1:5-7;

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Yashua haMeshiach his Son cleanses us from all sin.

When David shows up at the war camp of Israel he finds an interesting dynamic taking place – the chosen of YHVH are being taunted and tormented by a giant of a fellow named Goliath. For 40 days morning and evening the Philistines have been gathering in battle array on one side of the mountain and Israel would gather in battle array on the other side of the mountain with a valley separating the two armies, then the champion of the Philistines would come out and the impressiveness of his size and armor would send the chosen of God fleeing back to their camp much dismayed and greatly afraid.

Comparison: We too, as believers and followers of Yashua are chosen of YHVH. We have been told to ask for the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, filling us, transforming us, enabling us to be the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1-4; to serve before Him in righteousness -

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, says the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

David with the Ruach haKodesh mightily upon him (I Samuel 16:13), was sent by his father to the war camp of the Israelites to check on the welfare of his brothers. He arrived at the camp just as the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry. So far everything looks good and proper, but then the giant shows up. Comparison: We are grafted into the House of Israel, we have an inheritance in the land of promise, Yashua is our soon-coming Bridegroom, the Holy Spirit has been sent to comfort and lead us into all truth, we have the Spirits of YHVH – Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Strength, Knowledge and the Fear (Exceeding Reverence) of YHVH through Yashua available to us and yet, when the giants step out from the crowd into the valley of our life we so often run away from them in dismay and greatly afraid. Day after day, evening after evening they continue to taunt us and torment us. We might look good, we might sound good, but the giant is still standing.

What did David do? He ascertained the situation. I Samuel 17:26; Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?”

David’s boldness in the face of Israel’s fear brought condemnation upon him by his brother – basically saying, how dare you rise out of your place with the sheep in the wilderness and suggest that you can kill this giant; you might have killed the lion and the bear, but this is a giant and it takes a giant to kill a giant. But David was undeterred – he knew what he knew – the Ruach haKodesh was well able to take on the giant foe! This knowing brought him before King Saul, the largest man in the camp if not in all Israel, the one man all natural eyes looked to for their deliverance because of his physical size, who also questioned his youth and ability, but David had been in training – well prepared for the confrontation of this day, vs. 36; “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living YHVH.” Vs. 37, And David said, “YHVH who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may YHVH be with you.” But even with this blessing from the king, Saul still wanted to load David down with garments and helmet and armor. David tried them on, but they didn’t work for him, he chose to trust in the tools he had developed expertise with in the wilderness – a stick, stones and a sling.

Comparison: During our time in the wilderness what tools have we become quite capable in using for the slaying of giants? Have we honed our capability in prayer – putting on the whole armor of YHVH with all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit? Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests by made known to YHVH. Have we honed our capability in submission – submit therefore to YHVH, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to YHVH and He will draw near to you. Have we honed our capability in humbleness – humble yourselves in the presence of YHVH, and He will exalt you. Have we honed our capability to rejoice – Rejoice in YHVH always; and again I say rejoice! Have we honed our capability to rest in His peace – and the peace of YHVH which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Yashua haMeshiach. Have we honed our capability to love as He loves us – a new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold, but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yashua haMeshiach, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Yashua haMeshiach from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Yashua haMeshiach; whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Have we honed our capabilities by the power of the Ruach haKodesh in us so well that we can walk in the full assurance of the above quoted verses from 1 Peter 1 that they are ours with absolute certainty? David had used well his time in the wilderness and now armed with the tools he had honed his capability on he went forth to meet the giant – not in presumption, just assuming YHVH would help him, but in the absolute knowing where his strength came from, in YHVH Tzvayot.

The Philistine giant came onto the field of battle with his shield-bearer in front of him and when he saw David, he disdained him. Why? Because the giant was looking at the outward appearance of David and he cursed David by his gods. It is good to remember that the gods have no power other than what YHVH chooses to give them, in this instance the curses of Goliath by his gods had no power – for it is recorded in Proverbs 26:2; As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so a curse without cause does not alight. The Philistine made boasts to David, “come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.” But David was non-pulsed by the curses and the threats of the giant and responded with an affirmation in YHVH, 1 Samuel 17:45-47;

You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

When we know that our Redeemer lives and that He shall stand at the later day upon the earth (Job 19:25), then we can like David run quickly to the battle line to meet the giant using the well-honed capabilities we learned in our wilderness to slay giants. Why did David pick up 5 stones as he crossed the creek that meandered through the valley? 2 Samuel 21:18-22 gives us the answer and it wasn’t because David thought he might miss on his first throw, he knew Goliath had relatives and David went prepared to take them all out. Such was his confidence in the delivering power of YHVH.

Comparison: In our own lives do we have giants that taunt and torment us. Do they always come at us with their shield-bearer before them? Does it seem impossible to slay the giant?

Most often the shield-bearer masquerades as fear. Fear is what sends us running in dismay and greatly afraid back to our camp while the giant hurls his insults and curses at us, taking great pleasure in knowing that he will live to see another day. Fear always makes the giant seem more formidable than it really is. Scripture says that love casts out fear – 2 Timothy 1:7; for YHVH has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power; and of love, and of a sound mind. When the giant rose from his place David ran quickly to the battle line and drawing a stone from his pouch put it into his sling and slung it, striking the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground. Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. In the power of YHVH when we run at the giants fear ceases to be a relevant factor.

Think about this – what happened to Goliath’s shield-bearer? Scripture doesn’t record his end, but may we surmise that he disappeared – ran off? All he had was a shield against the on-coming David. He was okay as long as the giant could intimidate his foes, but once the bluff was uncovered he ran. Don’t be afraid of fear, don’t let fear control your actions and reactions, go forward in the FEAR – reverent awe – of YHVH and He will make your path straight.

YHVH is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, what principles worked for David will work for us. Do not be afraid, trust in YHVH and He will lift you up.

1 Samuel 17:4-7 gives a description of the giant Goliath. As I read this description I think of a dragon. In Revelation 12:9 there is reference of a dragon; “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he is thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” Goliath is a counter-part of our old adversary the devil. He was playing the game of deception – making the armies of Israel think and believe that he and the Philistine army behind him were unconquerable. Isn’t this what hasatan does with us today? He tries to get us to think that the giants in our lives are unconquerable. There so big, they’re covered in armor, a shield-bearer goes before them, there’s no way I am ever going to conquer that giant. Every day, every evening, I’ll dress for war and go out in battle formation on the mountainside; I’ll yell the battle cry and sound tough – until the giant steps out into the valley and begins to taunt me. Then I run.

Just as the giant is dressed in armor so we too are to dress in armor. Ephesians 6:11 says,” to put on the full armor of YHVH, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” The armor we have been given is armor of Light. Light overcomes darkness. The giant’s armor is brass. Strong’s # (H5178) describes brass as brazen, filthy, base. Revelation 7:14; ”…these are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

When David killed the giant, Goliath, it motivated the Israelite army. 1 Samuel 17:52-53; “And the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the slain Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron. And then the sons of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps. And then scripture records that David took Goliath’s severed head up to Jerusalem. In other words, he went before YHVH to worship. When we slay a giant it is important that we go up before YHVH and worship for it is recorded in Matthew 12:43-45;

“Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, I will return to my house from which I came; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied , swept and put in order. Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

The evil generation is the generation that chooses to believe deception over Truth. “I can’t be free, my giants are too big, too fearsome.” Yashua came to set us free. It’s time we started believing Him and began acting in that belief. The great God of the universe, YHVH, sent His Holy Spirit to us personally, to comfort us and to lead us into all Truth. For those are the worshippers the Father seeks, those that worship Him in Spirit and Truth. We have been believing the lie of deception for far too long – we can be free of the giants that taunt and torment – resentment, bitterness, hate, rejection, guilt and the list goes on. Put on the armor YHVH has provided, the helmet of salvation – protecting your thoughts, the breastplate of righteousness – protecting your heart of flesh where YHVH writes His Torah, the belt of truth – for it is truth that sets us free, the sandals of the gospel of peace – the power that destroys the authority that creates chaos, the shield of faith – that stops all the fiery arrows of the evil one, the sword of the Spirit – that divides truth from error. And then over all clothe yourself with the cloak of humility that you might stand firm in fervent and effective prayer.

David didn’t run from the giant, because he was clothed in the armor of light. Saul tried to get him to wear his armor of brass, but David had not tested this armor and didn’t know how it would function, but he knew the armor of light for remember in 1 Samuel 16:13 scripture says that from the day of David’s anointing the Spirit of YHVH came upon him mightily. It’s a timeless principle from Genesis 1:2-3 that Light dispels darkness. We are, as believers and followers of Yashua haMeshiach, children of the Light, 1Thes 5:5; Eph 5:8; John 12:36; Ex 27:20; Ex 10:23. Yashua came as a Light into the world, John 12:46, that whosoever believes on Him should not abide in darkness. John 8:12, “Then spoke Yashua again unto them, ‘ I Am the Light of the world; he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life.’” John 9:5, “As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”

Come on army of Messiah, take up the full armor of YHVH and walk in the Light that dispels darkness. It’s time to live in Psalm 91.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in YHVH with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Family Week Colorado

2010-05-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

We are on our way home – no, I think that is the wrong word; home was more what we just left! – then let me say back to our current residence in California after Family Week West and I am going to try and describe to you what an impacting, wonderful, uniting event this week was. It was hard to leave, we were all milling about reluctant to get in our vehicles and drive away from what had been a most glorious taste of the Kingdom of YHVH dwelling among us. Each mile we drive our hearts yearn with greater and greater intensity to return to that place of intimacy and unity in YHVH with like-minded brethren. The week was definitely a mountain-top experience, but as Oswald Chambers says in “My Utmost for His Highest” we must come down to the demon-possessed valleys and walk out what was revealed to us on the mountain top. Our life is to be a witness of His great love in the “mean” streets among the “mean” people performing our “mean” tasks. (Mean = everyday, average, mundane)

As is common in the Colorado mountains at 7,000 feet altitude in the middle of May the weather was variable – averaging from absolutely freezing to shirt sleeves, shorts and flip-flops. (Some didn’t exchange their flip-flops for socks and shoes even when the rest of us were bundled up with gloves and scarves, jackets and thermal underwear!) About 250 gathered for the week, some rented the camping cabins the Durango Riverside Resort has along the Animas River and others spent the week in motor homes and the really brave ones camped in tents, all of us arranged around a large, white convention tent set up for our meetings; quite similar to the pattern of ancient Israel’s wilderness camp, actually.

We arrived on Friday about 2:00p.m. and began to set things up to be ready for Shabbat, but our efforts kept being hampered by the enthusiastic greetings of friends not seen for awhile, we didn’t mind a bit though, the reunions were joyous! The wedding of Angela and Sam set the tone for the week. Two young people absolutely in love, committed to spend the rest of their lives together – what a picture of us and Messiah – absolutely in Love, and Committed to spend the rest of our lives together! Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. And these are those that have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb and keep the commandments of Yashua.

There were so many highlights of this past week, but I only want to concentrate on one for this posting, in postings to come I will talk about others – it probably would have been best to have made daily updates… but alas, it is what it is. Every morning from 8:30 to 9:30 was the Tabernacle of David. The singers and musicians and dancers gathered and Zach and Brayden led us all in worship. I am neither a singer or dancer or musician but I came every morning and worshipped nonetheless! Zach had been impressed by the Ruach to have this time of worship more like what he imagined it was in David’s Tent. So he put chord progressions up on the overhead and told all the musicians to play these progressions over and over (with embellishments if they were skilled at that) and Brayden picked a psalm and led the singers in singing the words of the psalm. Kyle picked up on the rhythms of the music and led the dancers in appropriate dance movements. It was all very spontaneous and very beautiful! Two of the mornings Steve led the spontaneous prayer during the worship. Let me try and paint a picture for you. The violinists are tuning their violins soon the flutists and mandolin and guitars join them, then 2 budding harpists run up to Steve and ask if they can play the harps this morning, he eagerly shows them the chord progressions for the mornings worship. Joshua is ready to go on the drums and Jonathon is at the keyboard; there is anticipation in the air. The singers are gathered behind Brayden and the dancers are assembled with Kyle, Steve is at the microphone; we are all waiting. Brayden announces that this morning we will be singing Psalm 24 and then Zach finally signals and the musicians begin to play the prescribed chord progressions, and Brayden begins to sing directly out of the psalm. In a moment the singers have picked up the tune and they join Brayden. Kyle quickly leads the dancers into a circle dance of Yemenites, coupes, turns and side steps. It all flows like it has been rehearsed for weeks. The Ruach is so present – then the singers stop singing and the music slows and softens as Steve begins to pray – he starts slowly and then the power of the Ruach begins to flow out of him and suddenly the room is filled with hallelujahs and praises and clapping hands, tears fill the eyes of many and roll unheeded down up-lifted faces. Once again the music picks up and the singers begin another verse of the psalm and the hour continues to build in this manner – singing, music, dancing, prayer - until you are abruptly shocked out of this glorious environment of communing so intimately with the King of Kings as Brayden announces that our time is up. No one wants to leave, but other awesome and enriching things await so we adjourn and eagerly await tomorrow morning’s 8:30 Tabernacle of David with YHVH.

Some said they heard angels singing – I wouldn’t doubt it!

Getting the Leaven Out!

2010-03-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

Some views from our place!

As we are approaching Pesach and the week of Unleavened Bread we are reminded of not only getting the leaven out of our houses but our hearts as well. In the Messianic movement Matthew 18:15-17 is often quoted as the standard for dealing with controversies between people. But there seems to be almost a glee sometimes in getting to the point of vs. 17 – maybe even skipping the protocol of vs. 15 and 16 in our rush to label the recalcitrant one a “heathen and a publican”. Sad to say, we have been a part of this mad dash to vs. 17 in the past, only realizing belatedly that by what measure we judge it will be measured back to us. We’ve all made mistakes, none of us are immune, but thank YHVH His mercy triumphs over judgment! If we took the time to read the entire 18th chapter maybe we wouldn’t rush so quickly to defend our view. (Here’s a word to meditate on – narcissism, its definition is: A pattern of traits and behaviors which signify infatuation and obsession with one's self to the exclusion of all others and the egotistic and ruthless pursuit of one's gratification, dominance and ambition.)

As the chapter goes on Yashua tells a parable of a King that forgave a servant of a great debt then the same, now forgiven servant, doesn’t pass the compassion on but puts in debtor’s prison a fellow servant who owed him much less than what he had been forgiven. When the King finds out about the forgiven servant’s cruelty to his fellow servant, he severely chastises him and then puts him in prison until his great debt is paid. The conclusion to this story:

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.

We all have been forgiven much by our Heavenly Abba. His compassion is great towards us. Yashua said, a new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. Let’s put this “new” commandment in relationship to Matthew 28:15-17; and if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer. If our brother sins do we then go to him in condemnation? And if he doesn’t listen to us do we then reject him and throw him out of our midst? Let us think hard about these words of Yashua:

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

1Peter 4:7-8: The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be clear-minded and self-controlled, so that you can pray. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. And from Matthew 24:10-13: And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.

Yashua said in response to the question, “how many times shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Till seven times?”

Yashua said, the classic phrase we all know so well, but practice so poorly, “I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.”

We’ve recently been the recipient of vs. 17 without benefit of vs. 15 and 16. Ecclesiastes 11:1 seems to apply both positively and negatively; “Cast your bread upon the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.” What goes around does indeed come back around and usually in greater measure for we’ve been further condemned with these verses from Titus 3:10-11; “Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and sinning being self-condemned.”

The persons leveling these accusations at us are even spreading tales about our unwillingness to respond to them as they think we should respond.

So what do we do?

We forgive? Yes – according to the direct command of Yashua up to seventy times seven.

Let’s look at the number seven. It is an interesting number, it means perfection or completeness. So taking this into account I forgive until the work of forgiveness is perfected or complete in me. In other words until there is no leaven (sin) doing its fomenting action in me. If I say I forgive you and hold a grudge or resentment or anger or malice or hatred or jealousy or vengefulness or revenge against my brother I have not forgiven as Yashua said to forgive – until the work of forgiveness is complete in us – no leaven.

We are given this opportunity of Pesach / Unleavened Bread to forgive our brother with the same level of compassion the King forgave His servant – totally and completely. Will YHVH be honored in our midst if we go to this feast with leaven in our hearts? Read the haftarah portion of Isaiah 43:22 – 44:23 and let it speak to you about the kind of people YHVH wants to serve Him. And remember what happened to the forgiven servant who did not practice forgiveness, “and the King, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.” Is holding onto leaven worth it?

I confess that I often struggle with the complete, perfected work of forgiveness, especially when “friends” falsely accuse you. It is difficult to turn the other cheek and not harbor bitterness and resentment toward them in your heart. But whatever momentary pleasure might be derived from this bit of self-pity will only lead to devastation, for as scripture says, a little lump will leaven the whole loaf. Soon your life will be consumed with leaven’s evil rewards for it is true that hasatan comes to do three things – to steal, kill and destroy and he is just waiting for any opportunity to wreak his havoc in you. If your life is in shambles check for leaven and then get it out for today is the day of Salvation!

Let us all come to the Pesach table free of leaven and truly celebrate the redemption provided us by The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world!

YHVH’S Blessings to you all this Pesach season!

Chag Sameach!

Home

2010-03-10T23:54:00.000-08:00

March 10, 2010
We have been home now, in California, for a couple of weeks and this is where we are going to stay at least for awhile it seems. Steve is quite ill and both our vehicles are not operable, we are at the mercy of friends for whatever transport we do need, but I cannot say it is a totally bad place to be. The California hills are green, such a glorious green! The beautiful wild lupines are beginning to bloom along with the baby blue eyes and shooting stars, the sky was a magnificent blue today, the oaks are beginning to leaf, the sun shone and the stars are lighting up the night sky like so many twinkling diamonds. Even though some days it may not seem so obvious – YHVH is still in control! When I get to looking at the crazy, berserk antics of man, his absolute disregard for the supreme sovereignty of our Creator, I go sit in the sun and watch the new little leaves unfold before my eyes or stand under the flow glow of a brilliantly lit night full of stars and I am reminded of David’s psalm 8:
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Yes, He still rules over the heavens and the earth no matter what our natural eyes may be trying to tell us.
Here is an email I received today that is worthy for consideration:
Are You in Satan’s Crosshairs?

Satan seems to be more active as we approach the Holy Days. This is one of the reasons why the Bible contains numerous warnings about how Satan operates to deceive, divide and destroy God’s people.
Satan is described as a hunting lion who stalks his prey (1 Peter 5:8).
He is a dangerous adversary searching for vulnerable individuals (1 Timothy 5:14-15).
Satan does not hunt with claws or bullets, but instead spreads gossip, rumors and lies about others (1 Timothy 5:13, Leviticus 19:16; John 8:44).
He fosters dissension and divisions by stirring up fears, jealousy and wrong ambitions (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). He will also use anyone—members and ministers—to sow discord and do his work (2 Corinthians 11:1-15).
Satan zeros in on people who have doubts, hurts and resentments, who feel wronged or who feel their ideas, opinions or ambitions have been overlooked or denied.
He uses such individuals to criticize, lash out at or undermine others—especially those in leadership positions. We are advised not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).
As the Holy Days approach, let’s be ready to recognize and resist Satan’s attempts to deceive and divide.
Let’s not become unsuspecting victims of negative attitudes that he beams at those in his crosshairs (Ephesians 2:2.

There seems to be such a separation going on – in this are the tares being identified from the wheat? I heard an interesting talk about the tares awhile back that went something like this. When it comes time for harvest the tares are the ones standing straight up in the field while the wheat is bowed over because it is heavy with fruit. The tares have no fruit and therefore are not burdened under its wait. Whether this is indeed true agricultural fact or not I have not researched, but I did find the analogy interesting and appropriate for so many in this time.

There’s a lot of weariness among YHVH’S set-apart ones. We have struggled for the rich nourishment of the soil, the moisture from heaven, our share of fertilizer, space to grow, holding onto our fruit through adverse weather and now it is close to the time of harvest and our heads are bowed – waiting to be brought into the barn and delivered of the fruit we have carried to maturity.

The tares have no such weariness and with impunity suck up the richness of the earth and the heaven, crowding and jostling for space and standing tall as though impervious to all elements until the harvester’s scythe comes and cuts them down and throws them into the fire. They might have looked good, even sounded good, but they had no fruit.

“Well done” the Father is saying to His weary ones, “come now and enter into the joy of Your Master Yashua.”

Let us keep looking up for our redemption draws nigh.

Canada Wedding Celebration

2010-03-05T10:14:00.000-08:00

Kim and Holly under the Chupa with sons and attendants Don and Maureen

On February 17 we were privileged and honored to attend a wedding renewal in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada. About 25 people were present and the bride later told me that they had made the date for this very special event so we could be a part of it. We were thrilled to be present! A big part of this renewal celebration was due to the movie, Fireproof. The website that goes along with the theme presented in the movie is: www.fireproofmymarriage.com. Our last night in Salmon Arm, our good friend Maureen put the movie on and we sat together and watched it, (for her the third time). The message came across loud and clear, take care of and cherish your spouse or one day you may wake up and find yourself alone. In a very clear and understandable way the movie presented a path to reconciliation and love again.

Steve, Don and Jesse leading worship

Reflecting on this wedding renewal I am wondering if I/we have come to a place of taking for granted, ignoring needs and requests, putting off responsibilities, not taking time, the specialness, the romance, the love for not just my/your spouse but for our Yashua. Has His need for intimacy gone unmet? That door He is standing at knocking is ours! These words were written to the congregation of Laodicea:
Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Signing the Ketuba

It would serve us well to take these words of Yashua to heart not only in our relationship with Him but also with each other. Kim and Holly took the initiative and by and through the incredible Grace and Love of Abba laid down their lives for each other and took up new lives together in their Master Yashua.
We applaud them for renewing their life-long commitment and doing the work it took to make that renewed commitment a covenant contract. YHVH Bless you abundantly – good measure, pressed down shaken together, running over, blessings!

Faith Like Potatoes

2010-03-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

Arrow Lake Near Nakusp- B.C.,Canada

February 19, 2010
We’ve been in Canada since Monday and plans are to leave this beautiful part of the country on Sunday heading for California with a couple of stops along the way. It amazes me every day how different – wonderful and fresh and beautiful - everything (for me) is on this road trip. There’s a part of me that keeps wondering if this is going to last – when is the other shoe going to drop and things, me, will be back doing stuff – acting - the old way. But every day that passes the new life grows stronger and the old gets weaker. I lift my hands to Abba and praise Him for His glorious deeds manifest in and around me!

Galena Bay

Anyone seen the movie, “Faith like Potatoes”? We highly recommend it! The interview is especially compelling. Anyway, there is a theme in the movie that jumped out at me and has caused me to do much pondering and meditating and repenting. When Steve introduces us as The Peregrinnatti, he talks about faith as substance and evidence; YHVH steps in - that’s substance and His answer – that’s evidence. This FAITH that is substance and evidence doesn’t leave room for “if”. What kind of faith raises people from the dead; the faith that moves in belief to the “Word of YHVH!” That’s why when we pray we must pray according to the Will of The Father. We must take the time to KNOW His will. When we pray The Father’s will there is no room for “if”. Then, praying the Father’s will requires obedience. What is Abba telling me? Am I willing to do what He is telling me to do?

Ferry Crossing at Galena Bay-B.C., Canada

Several years ago our best friend was tragically killed in a work-related accident. I knew with everything that was in me that his death was not the will of YHVH. I prayed and declared and proclaimed and everything else, but what Abba had asked me to do. I was “afraid” of the opinions of man. The years since I have tried to justify in my mind my lack of obedience; what I needed to do was humble myself and repent. My heart realizes now that I use the word “if” all to frequently in my interactions with Abba; the little word that has huge implications.
We use “if” as a back door just in case Abba doesn’t answer our prayer and then we say “well it must not have been The Father’s will” to heal so and so or to deliver or, as in our friend’s case to raise them from the dead. The strong conviction that came upon me in watching this video is that my faith has become substance and evidence-less. I have emasculated myself with this one tiny, little word. I use it as an excuse why the Power of YHVH is not flowing in my life like “rivers of Living Water” that Yashua promised would flow out of those that believe. I want to believe, I must believe, my faith must become real substance and evidence. The word “if” has no place in the life of a follower of Yashua. No ifs, ands or buts about it! We must learn to pray the prayer of faith, believing YHVH to be who He says He is.
Here is a saying The Father gave me some time ago that had unfortunately become relegated to the cobwebs of my mind, “Trust to see what you have had faith to believe and been obedient to do.” The 4 cylinders in the engine of your car!

Beautiful Mountains Near Hope, B.C., Canada

It is recorded of Yashua in John 10, “The sheep hear His (Yashua’s) voice and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. He goes before them and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice, and a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” When I pray the prayer of faith I am responding to the voice of The Shepherd and following Him. When we are called to an action of faith we come under the unction of the Ruach (Holy Spirit)and The Spirit flows out of us for the Doing of the Father’s will.
When we pray out of an emotional need to see YHVH intervene in a particular circumstance we can come under listening to the voice of a stranger – “Did not God say” – as was said to Eve in the Garden of Eden.
In the movie, “Faith Like Potatoes”, when Angus believed the Lord was telling him to plant potatoes he had a host of nay-Sayers come against his plan. They all had good intentions – wanting to keep him from financial ruin to protecting him from losing his faith when the crop failed due to the lack of rain and the weather forecast of no rain in the foreseeable future. Angus could have listened to their good intentions and not planted potatoes, but if he had done so he would have been following the voice of a stranger not following the voice of The Shepherd. But Angus knew the voice of The Shepherd and was able to resist the temptation to deviate from the word of YHVH to him. By being faithful to The Shepherd a great miracle happened that was witness to the Glory of God.
We must get so in tune with Abba that we walk in His Light, we dwell in the shadow of His wings, under His feathers we shall find refuge. It is in our relationship with Him that we hear His voice telling us what to do. My sheep hear my voice and the voice of a stranger they will not follow. It is the stranger that takes us in our emotional moments and tries to be the voice and authority of YHVH to us. It is at these times that we are pressured to act presumptuously or arrogantly or blindly. Each day as Paul admonishes us we must die to self so it is YHVH’s will we seek and not our own. As bondslaves we put His needs, wants and desires ahead of our own. Our natural self would seek to judge, to heal, to deliver and feed every person that comes across our path, or not, but it is recorded in scripture that Yashua said that “He can do nothing of himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”
I want to hear what Yashua is telling me. I don’t want to trust myself to know what to do. I want to follow Him so closely that when He says rebuke death and raise this person up I want to be in a place of obedience and do what I have been told to do. I want to be in such close relationship with Him that when He says my greater purpose is going to be revealed by this person’s death I want to obey Him rather than the need of my flesh to see a person’s life restored.
Help me Abba to stop lacing my life with excuses and justifications for my inabilities, for in doing so I am essentially blaming You for my lack of power in Your Ruach that comes from being in relationship with You. Forgive me for listening to and following a stranger instead of You Abba. Turn my heart back to You Abba that I might Be all that You created me to Be and Do all that You have for me to Do.
If My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray, and seek My Face, turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Remember the story of the blind man, the disciples asked, who sinned this man or his parents that he should be born blind? Yashua answered, it was neither that this man nor his parents that sinned that he should be born blind, but that the Glory of YHVH might be revealed.
When we follow The Shepherd, when we obey His voice the Glory of YHVH is made manifest in our midst! Oh to hear and obey!
Even so come Lord Yashua!

People Who Love People...

2010-02-15T08:26:00.000-08:00

February 15, 2010
There are lessons one learns while on the road, that I wonder – could they be learned at home?
Like this one; people are more important than “to do lists”. I honestly don’t know if I would have discovered the value of this lesson from the comfort of my living room. Checking off items on my “to do list” has almost seemed like my life purpose, not laughing uproariously over a game of cards while seated at a dining table or building a snowman or watching goats do tricks or constructing marble mazes or talking recipes or looking at photo albums or listening to old “war” stories.

Presenting at a Senior Retirement Center in Colorado

Yes, I like people, but until I lost my hearing in my left ear while in Israel this past fall I never really enjoyed people. There was always too much else to do to really take time to enjoy people, right now, in the immediacy of the moment.
Compromised hearing is a frustrating, annoying, irritating disability. I struggle and strain to hear the talk at dinner tables, little children’s excited chatter, elderly folks muted comments, telephone conversations, weather reports on television, radio talk show hosts without blowing my husband out of the car, and the list goes on and on.

Ellie on the Harp in Colorado--More Coming!

It has made for many tears and much pleading until one day the sweet, gentle voice of the Holy Spirit said to me, “listen to their spirit.” A mushroom cloud of understanding exploded for me at those words, you might not be able to hear them physically so learn to hear to communicate spirit to spirit. I was floored, I was amazed – I am awed, I am whelmed!
There are still days and times when the “need” to create a list, the need to hear almost overwhelms me, but the loving kindness of The Father helps me refocus on people, their spirit need, right here right now. (I apologize if I haven't answered your email or returned your phone call, I will.) Life is becoming much more of a day by day adventure, it is slowly transitioning to “what’s next Papa?!” – the life of a bondslave of Y”Shua. Are we – am I – there yet? No. But the journey is begun. It is a great adventure, we recommend it highly!

Bob and Penny at Colorado National Monument

This life of enjoying people has taken us to retirement centers and nursing homes, schools and play yards and parks, coffee shops and deli’s, home fellowships and “Baptist” churches, the bedside of the severely ill to graduations; wherever people are. And in “the going” I am beginning to learn His Spirit flows. And I must clarify something here, it is “the going” in the compassion of Y’Shua that the rivers of living water will pour forth from those who worship The Father in both Spirit and Truth for those are the worshippers whom The Father seeks. Worship / Compassion they both bring life from the dead! We’ve experienced a trickle, we are praying and waiting for the waterfall!

Our Son Gabriel and Grandson Dylan Skiing

Wait for YHVH; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for YHVH!
Psalm 27:14

Like the old song says;
Turn your eyes upon Y’Shua, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
YHVH’s Blessings be upon you and your household.
Until next time!

A Lesson from the Wind

2010-02-08T11:43:00.000-08:00

February 3, 2010 - From Kansas to Colorado
The Father has been so good to us this trip. It is as though He is weaving us through and around the storms that are lashing our nation this winter. The trip from Kansas to Colorado was clear and dry. Huge wind machines dot the Kansas countryside. As I was watching them turn the other day I couldn’t help but think of the scripture that Yahshua spoke to Nicodemus about the Holy Spirit – the wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going, so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. The wind blows and turns the big blades of these mammoth machines and this turning generates power. The power generated is transformed into usable electricity for thousands of homes and businesses. So also the Wind / Spirit comes into our lives and generates power to transform lives. The question posed to me as I watched those huge wind turbines is; “the power I generate in your life is it transformational impacting lives for My Kingdom?” Hebrews 5:13 – 6:3; “For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But the solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Messiah, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward YHVH, of instruction about washing, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we shall do, If YHVH permits.”
So the lesson for me is this; the believer who only partakes of milk is like the huge wind turbine, fully operational but the blades are not engaged to take advantage of the wind blowing across their surface. But the mature believer is fully engaged in the power generating process. It is only as the blades turn under the power of the wind that electricity is generated for the transformation of darkness into light. Let us pray to be mature believers fully engaged in the transformational process of darkness into light.

Texas to Kansas

2010-02-03T07:17:00.000-08:00

The Mighty Mississippi River

February 3, 2010
We last reported from Texas as we were getting ready to head up to Kansas. We were watching the weather closely as snow and freezing rain were the menu of the day. When we woke up on Friday morning, it looked like we had a travel window, right in behind the storm as it advanced eastward, and we felt a peace about going, so we packed up and headed out. There was a lot of rain in Texas, and as we hit the Oklahoma boarder, it soon turned into sleet and snow. By the time we got to Oklahoma City, there was a section of I-35 that was closed with trucks slipping on the ice and piling up, blocking the road, so we had to find a detour around all that mess. Wind and snow were the event of the day, but thankfully, we had fair visibility and made the 500 mile voyage to Sedan, Kansas by 8:30 Friday evening. It was a welcome site to pull into the driveway of our friends and come into their warm home and celebrate Erev Shabbat with them. Our scheduled presentation for Sunday morning cancelled because they said the roads were too bad—interesting, considering what we had just driven through to get here, nonetheless… We are only responsible for meeting our commitments, and let Him take care of the rest.

Cardinals getting the seeds

We had a delightful Shabbat and shared our message from Israel. Once again lights were turned on in people’s understanding. We had a blessing of just resting with our friends on Sunday, watching out the living room window as Cardinals, Sparrows, Chickadees and squirrels busily scarfed up the seeds that had been placed in the yard feeders.

Mr. Squirrel getting his share

A quiet day this Tuesday gave us the opportunity to get our oil and transmission fluid changed in Bartlesville, OK and as we were talking to the owner he asked us what we were doing on the road so much of the time. We explained our ministry to him and he was so excited and wanted his wife to meet us. We gave them a CD and our contact information with web site. It was a real divine appointment and who knows where it will go. It is so important to just make yourself available to what YHWH places before you each and every day.
Today we head on over to Colorado. The weather report does not show too bad of conditions, so we hope to get there without too much interference. We’ll report from Colorado in the next few days.

Tennessee to Texas

2010-01-26T19:58:00.000-08:00

Natchez Trace Overpass

January 26

Waco, Texas and January is drawing to a close. What a trip it has been so far! The Father has weaved us around the storms that are brutally lashing this nation and directed our travels to this place. We have been so totally blessed by the richness of fellowship and friendship wherever we have gone and the divine appointments that He has prepared for us to bless and be blessed by! We last left you as we were coming into Tennessee. The weather was considerably warmer even though the effects of the recent cold blast were still evident. The cuts in the road that usually had water seepage were frozen waterfalls and only slowly melting. It rained during our stay, but that didn’t dampen our spirits, for our time was full of the beautiful warmth and wonder of great friends! On Shabbat we got to have a mini family week / harvester reunion as about 100 people showed up at the Franklin, TN community center close to the Waller Family. Many of the group had been in Israel during the harvest so it was like homecoming with so many familiar faces and stories. Our message on the Fig Tree vs. The Olive Tree was received well and many commented that it helped bring understanding to the current situation in The Land.

Beautiful Tennessee Farmland

Just a note—The Waller Family Week information is available at http://www.familywk.com/ and this year is a Kentucky site for Pesach and a Durango, Colorado site for Shavuot. Also, please pray about joining the harvest team in Israel this fall. The main harvesting is going to occur just as Succot finishes as Succot comes early this year. This is a great way to engage Israel at a level that few tours will ever do. You will not be disappointed. More information is available at http://www.hayovel.com/.

Beginning of Parkway in Tennessee

From Tennessee we drove down the Natchez Trace headed for Mississippi. What a beautiful drive. The speed limit is 50 mph because it is a National Parkway, but you wouldn’t want to drive any faster, it’s just so beautiful. If you ever get into the area, do not miss this treat. Our next stop was near Tupelo, Mississippi—birthplace of Elvis Presley, they proudly proclaim on the signs. We were hosted by wonderful friends and we gave our message to another Messianic/Sunday mixed group. There is so much stirring in our land: people coming to an awareness of Torah because they start reading the Scriptures and the Spirit opens their minds and they become convicted of the truths of Torah that they have been blinded to until now. While we were in their home, there was a tremendous storm with rain pounding all night with thunder and lightning.

The Wall Cherokee Memorial

The next morning as we traveled down the Trace towards Jackson, Mississippi, there were many spots of flooding. As we drove through the upper part of Louisiana, the talk on the radio was the lost strawberry crop because of the deep freeze they had just come through the week before. I don’t think they are too convinced about “global warming”.
As we drove into East Texas on Interstate 20, we came upon a scene of devastation. A tornado had just been through there and there was twisted metal all over the sides of the road from the roof of an industrial building. 5 different tornados had touched down in East Texas which is an unusual event for winter season. Creation is groaning, and time is short. Everywhere we are going, people are making preparations. Just as we have seen a movement on the land by the Spirit/Ruach haKodesh bringing people back to Torah, we are now seeing a move across the land for making preparation.
We made it on into Georgetown, Texas by 11:00 pm –friends were waiting up for us. What a blessing is the hospitality of friends!. We were able to share with their fellowship group and once again, there were many who said they understood things about the present Israel better.

January 16--Colorado to Tennessee

2010-01-18T15:42:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Farm House

Well, it’s time for catch up with the blog. It’s not that there isn’t enough to report on, it’s just been a full time and we forgot our computer cord in Iowa and just received it in the mail. We made our friends house, Matt and Karen, in Colorado in the middle of sub-zero temperatures and snow flurries and icy roads. We were late for dinner (having gotten lost), but were greeted warmly by Karen and daughter Katie and friends Lance and Lisa and their boys, when we did finally make it to their place . (It was a good thing Matt drove out to meet us and guide us in or it would have been a really late dinner!) We had to leave the next morning to make our weekend committment in Iowa. The weather along the way wasn't looking to driving favorable so that night we prayed that if we were to continue the journey the day would dawn clear otherwise we would stay another night in Colorado. Well, in the morning the sky was clear and a beautiful blue with good driving conditions across the midwest so we took that as a sign to proceed on. It is always so hard to leave these YHWH connected cherished relationships. But it was on to Iowa with Mike and Nettie. Halfway across Nebraska we get a call from them telling us to not try and make it to their place that night because of blizzard conditions. So, we held up in Lincoln, Nebraska until the next morning when the wind had died down somewhat and the snow plows began running.

There was wonderful fellowship in Iowa and some times for personal ministry as well. YHWH always seems to bring us to the right place at the right time with a word in due season. Here is a picture of one of the drift snow banks so you don’t think we are exaggerating. There were even higher ones than this one! And oh boy was it cold!!!

Iowa Snow Drift

Our next leg of the journey was to press on to Green Bay, Wisconsin. On the way, we stopped at a Bible Training Center in Cresco, Iowa. These centers are Christian rehabilitation centers for chemical dependent returning prodigal sons and daughters. What a blessing. We don’t know if we were blessed more or they were with the stories. Such beautiful people we are privileged to meet. We had been invited to come up to Green Bay by a friend of ours that collects food from various large corporate facilities and then distributes to many different ministries of which these Bible Training Centers are part. So every time we are out on the road, our friend tries to hook us up with a center that is close. We were offered the opportunity to share at a Wednesday evening meeting in Green Bay with a combination Sunday church and Messianic fellowship that rents from them. They all came to the presentation and there was such a unity between both groups—what a blessing to be part of that.

Even as we were in Green Bay, the weather started to get a little warmer. By the time we left, it had “warmed up” to 20 degrees and was feeling like shirt sleeve weather! We traveled through Chicago on into Indiana and were trying to make it to another Bible Training Center in Brazil, Indiana by 7:30 in the evening. As we were calling in to get instructions to the facility, we realized that in coming into Indiana, we had crossed another time zone and it was really 8:30p.m. now. Oh my! were we late. But they were very gracious and asked us to tell a story anyway and they all stayed a half hour extra to listen. It is always such a blessing to sit down with these dear folks and listen to where they have been and find out where YHWH is leading them. The Centers always feed us and put us up for the night and ask us to do morning devotions in which we take the opportunity to share some Hebrew language insights.
A couple of the gals gave up their beds for us to sleep on and we felt really loved and cared for.

Got to Tennessee Friday and so far have had a wonderful, packed to the brim few days. More to come.
Blessings!

2010-01-06T08:49:00.001-08:00

January 5, 2010
When Father puts a trip together for us He seems to do it without a lot of advance warning. Trips for us seem to come together with a “suddenly” air about them. This one is no different except for the fact that there was an element of waiting associated with this one. A strange paradox – suddenly and waiting working together. Psalm 27:14 Wait on YHVH: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on YHVH. Psalm 27 is the “Everyday” psalm, so we have been reading it everyday along with the daily psalm and a chapter in Proverbs for our morning devotion together. Anyway, the last verse, quoted above has been impressing our minds and hearts with the absolute necessity of waiting on YHVH. Waiting is not something that western society does well. We are more into instant gratification. So… the road trip is suddenly coming together, the schedule is being confirmed, the bags are being packed and then comes the waiting test. The landlord of the property where our dogs were so well taken care of by our friend Terry while we were in Israel has suffered a mild heart attack. She has spent the week in the hospital and has not yet given permission for Ginny and Cricket to come spend 6 weeks with Terry who lives on her land. What do we do? Terry suggested the only and best option, really, and that was to keep praying and wait. So we prayed and we waited. Monday was the hardest day to keep waiting as we were planning on leaving Tuesday in order to make our first engagement Wednesday evening in Colorado. I started coming up with alternate suggestions, but none of them were really workable and I even called a few people and put subtle hints out there, but no one bit. So we waited. At 9:00 Monday evening Terry called saying he had permission for the dogs to come. We wasted no time getting everyone in the car and driving the hour and a half to his place. By 11:00p.m. we were headed back home dropping into bed about 12:40a.m. Since the car was full of dog stuff we spent Tuesday morning packing trip stuff and finally locked the gate at 12:15p.m. Spent the night in Wendover, Nevada, got a nice, clean hotel room for $25.00, can’t do much better than that on the road except for staying with great friends like you all!!!
It was a beautiful sunrise this morning as you can see and we’ll be posting more sunrise pictures at the top of each blog entry. Enjoy them as we travel together on this great adventure!
Blessings, Shirley

Another great adventure - 2010

2010-01-06T07:39:00.000-08:00

It’s time for a new posting on our blog site as we are off on another road trip. But first, thank you all for your support and comments through our time in Israel. We learned and observed much during our nearly 3 months there. As we travel the US these next 2 months we hope we can connect with you somewhere along the way. We will be leaving January 5 for Colorado and on to Iowa. We will stop briefly in Wisconsin and then head down to Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, back through Colorado, up to Idaho, British Columbia and back to California. If we miss you then let us know and we will try and connect with you on the next great adventure.
It seems that what YHWH has for us to share this trip is an understanding of what the Nation of Israel is today as it relates to Bible prophecy. Just a hint; Yeshua said that when you see the leaves come forth on the “Fig Tree” not the Olive Tree. Steve has prepared a teaching to help understand the differences and what that means prophetically. Shirley has a teaching on the mainly untold history of Israel and how we need to align ourselves to walk in YHVH’S Light, her talk is entitled, “Two Paths, Your Choice”. Along with this also seems to be that YHWH is connecting us with several people and fellowships that are focusing on building community. We have had a heart for community for years, and been through many processes and many mistakes, and now He seems to be connecting us with these various groups, and maybe our mistakes will finally be worth something. His ways are mysterious and past finding out!
We ask for your prayers and support as we venture out on this great adventure. We are being sent during one of the worst winters on record through the Midwest and Eastern US; so much for Global Warming! Our car has 175,000 miles on it, so we are asking YHWH for His safety, Hs provision, His protection, and His guiding word and direction throughout the journey. We will try and post a calendar shortly so you can see where we will be and hopefully connect as we come into your area.
The times—they are a changin. There are many events swirling around us each day that could cause us to fear, but in the midst of all this we are told to lift up our heads…for our redemption draws close. If we lift our heads up, that means we are not looking at the circumstances or ourselves to get our direction. We are looking to Him. Have you ever noticed how many times in scripture it records that someone, especially Yeshua, “lifted their eyes”. That is our only hope and our only safety; looking unto Yeshua, the author and finisher of our faith.
Blessings and Shalom

Back in Ariel, Israel

2009-11-06T22:04:00.000-08:00

Tommy and Sherri Waller--Harvest Masters!

November 6, 2009
The rain has come in earnest to The Land. We are told that this amount is unusual for Israel. What a blessing it is!. We were visiting with one of the vineyard owners last evening and he said he doesn't use an umbrella because he just wants to get soaked by the blessings of the rain. What a concept. He is the same one that was dancing with us in the vineyard the day we showed up and brought in his crop that he thought he was going to loose because he couldn't find any pickers and the sugar was starting to go too high. He said that when we walked into his vineyard, he knew HaShem had answered his prayer--a real Succot miracle; like Ushpitzim 2!
These kind of miracles and movings of YHWH have been regular events while here in the land. When you come to this land and make yourself available for YHWH to work through, divine appointments begin to happen. We have become expectant --waiting for the next thing that YHWH wants to show us.

One of Our Divine Appointments

There are quiet times too so there isn't always something "happening"; but even then there is usually something to do or hear or observe. Even the pounding of the rain seems to have a spiritual component. YHWH said that this land would not be like Egypt where they irrigated from the Nile River. This land would be watered with the rains that He would send as long as His people would gaurd/shomer His commands found in Torah. The coming of these intense rains may signal a new level of seriousness for Torah among the people of Israel. An article in Jerusalem Post stated that a Moral Majority had for the first time been identified in Israel. How interesting!

One of Our Last Gatherings Before Leaving the Land

We are starting to see the main group that has been here in Ariel dwindle to less than 20 now. It has been sad to say goodbye to so many people we now consider to be family. There has been a sense of community here that has been so rich and unexpected and wonderful. There have been so many servant hearts displayed here, and I think to myself, "how incredible it would be to be able to live like this all the time." But sadly, other demands have called these dear ones back to their previous lives for the time being. The Kingdom millineum becomes more and more attractive as time and events go on. We must be ready for that soon to be reality. Come soon Meshiach!
We have been in meetings with various vineyard owners and managers over the past few days. There are many opportunities opening up with all of them and most likely others to follow. It seems that this platform of blessing Israel through agriculture is really finding a home in the hearts of the farmers here. It is exciting to hear the proposals for expansion as we sit around the tables. With about 100 people coming this year, the planning for next year will start soon and it seems that we will have to step it up a notch and be prepared for more people going to more vineyards and olive orchards next year. I strongly encourage you to begin to prepare now to be one of them. Your life will never be the same if you do.

Shaking Down the Olives in Shilo--or Resting?

After the rains, we have spent some time in the olive orchards near Shilo picking olives that will be pressed for oil. It was great raking the olives off the branches onto the netting we had laid on the ground to catch them. It was kind of like brushing tangled hair but at least the trees didn't cry from pulling the hair! We are even being asked if there might be the ability to work other harvests like dates, so who knows where this all goes. As long as YHWH is in charge and we are obedient, anything is possible.

Olive Orchard on Mt. Gerazim

We have been challenged deeply personally these last weeks as well. Our up front statement has been that we are committed to be a blessing to Israel no matter what, and circumstances have unfolded that have challenged us to the core of this commitment. We have been shown one more way that we see things differently than those who follow a rabbi above what Torah says. It has hurt deeply and challenged us profoundly as to whether we really can live what we have said. With YHWH's grace and power in our lives, I believe that we will take the next step. As He draws us into more responsibility, He shows us what we need to work on to make the journey unencombered. Pray with us for the strength and wisdom to make the right choices and actions.
We have had our eyes opened wider while in The Land, and can't wait to share with you all our observations as we come back to the US. If you would like to set up a time of sharing with your group please contact us at peregrinnatti@yahoo.com and we'll set something up. There are many ideas and opportunities that we can not list here that we would love to share with you. Until then be blessed and Shalom.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

2009-10-28T04:24:00.000-07:00

October 25, 2009
Bait Ali, Wadi Rum, Jordan
Sunday was our last full day in Jordan. Our friends and hosts, Johnny and Beverly took us out to Wadi Rum. Many of the scenes in the movie "Lawrence of Arabia" were filmed here. When we were in Jordan in 2006, we crossed the border and spent 3 days visiting Petra and Aqaba. Our driver who took us to Petra drove us by the beautiful mountains of the Wadi Rum area, but our friends took us into the area and we "saw" it this time! Wadi Rum is mainly inhabited by Bedouins.

Atallh and his youngest son

We met Atallh and his family who are Bedouin. Atallh takes excursions into the desert on horseback. He had just gotten home from a 6 day horse-back ride to the Saudi border. His email is: rumhorses@yahoo.co.uk
if anyone is interested in contacting him for setting up a grand adventure. And of course you will need a place to stay in preparation for your horseback adventure and to recover from your grand adventure! We've discovered just the place - Bait Ali Camp.

Entrance to Bait Ali Camp

We drove up to the entrance and my spirit went, oh my goodness, here in front of me is what Steve and I have envisioned for so many years, a delightful set-up for community life! The owners are Susie and Tasein, energetic, visionary people. Susie comes up with the ideas and Tasein makes them happen, then Susie runs it! Tasein is too busy building!! The compound is very Bedouin - camel-hair tents providing shade for varied eating and relaxing areas, colorful cushions for comfort on low stucco benches, fire-pits for atmosphere.

There's a huge bar/dining area where we were treated to a desert feast! There's also a large building for having meetings and gatherings in an enclosed space. You can take your choice of accommodations - from tent to motel-like room with use of communal bath and shower to the "chateaus". These are so charming, they look like tents but they are built of blocks and stucco. An additional plus is that they have their own private bath.
Recently added to Bait Ali Camp is an ampitheater that seats 5,000. What great fun it would be to bring over 5,000 believers and fill the ampitheater with worship and prayer. Beverly told us their favorite time to stay at Bait Ali is in the winter. The crispness of the winter night makes the myriad of stars that fill the night sky so close it seems you can reach up and touch them!

Over-looking Bait Ali Camp

We left Aqaba Monday morning in time to catch the 11:00 bus to Be'er Sheva. It was a good thing we gave ouselves plenty of time for both Jordan and Israel went through our bags - Israel more so than Jordan. Jordan only wanted to go through one, but Israel went through all of them! What a mess. The poor harp had another accident and another 6 strings broke. Altogether Steve has replaced 18 strings this trip, some more than once. Poor harp, its been brutal!
We are leaving the harp with a fellow we met at the Love for Israel conference in Portland, OR this past summer. He is in Jerusalem attending Hebrew language school for 6 months - so tomorrow the harp is passing hands. He traded Steve a Japanese Koto (harp) for ours. There is a harp in Ariel (at least there was when we left a couple of weeks ago) that Steve has access to so its not like he will be without for the remainder of our time here. That's a good thing too, for Caleb W. took one of the scripture stories and is practicing it wanting to learn to tell stories as well. Hurray! another storyteller!!! We will see about putting together a story-telling evening before we leave.
We can say we are international now as we have ministered the harp and story in both Jordan and Israel! What fun it has been, we look forward to many more opportunities!

Playing for the Children

2009-10-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

October 23, 2009 - Aqaba, Jordan
Have you ever noticed how your up-bringing determines to a great extent your reactions and behavior to your environment?
I grew up in Florida, while the state was still considered a part of the south and de-segregation was only a hotly debated topic of discussion. My up-bringing did not prepare me to live in a racially diverse community in Florida or California or anywhere else for that matter. Because I was a product of my up-bringing I had never considered myself to be racist. Then, in my marriage we moved to a racially diverse community and my eyes were open. I saw, in all its ugliness, my deeply hidden prejudices and fears. But Abba put me there to teach me that we are ALL His children. When He empowers you to be able to look past a person's race then you can truly begin to "see" them.
So spending this time in Jordan has been an interesting experience for me. I see children playing ball with their friends in the streets, (we did that as children too, not until 11:00 P.M. though!), I see mothers pushing baby strollers and fathers carrying little ones, crying children in grocery stores when expectations are not met, the firm voice of discipline as well as the giving-in so as to forestall a "scene", families out for an evening stroll or having a picnic at the beach, it's typical life of any town America. Once again The Father is punching a hole in the wall of my up-bringing and saying to me, we are ALL His children. We smile, we laugh, we cry, we say Hello, we eat, we drink, we love, we sleep.
"Open your eyes and "see" my children as I see them."

We visited a school for mentally handicapped children a few days ago. The teachers make less than $200 a month, but their love and dedication to these dear ones is evident. With great care and tenderness they direct and teach and wipe noses and console.

Steve played his harp for all the kids and the children were especially delighted when he allowed them to strum the strings. One deaf girl's face lit up when he brought the harp over to her table and she felt the vibrations of his playing. One little boy watched Steve so intently that when he was allowed to strum the strings he placed his fingers and plucked the strings just as he had seen Steve doing.

A teacher was talking to me in her broken English about the Jordanian people, how they are different from the others and I agreed with her that the Jordanian people were a very kind, gentle people indeed. She looked at me and then grabbed me in a big hug and kissed my cheek, she was so overcome. So was I for that matter! - (Muslim women, like Orthodox Jewish women, will (outside of their family), only have physical contact with another woman, i.e. the shaking of hands.)

I suppose I am "harping" a little on this, but we must allow the Spirit to punch holes in the walls of our up-bringing and bring down our racisms so that we can love like our Father loves and be springs of living water to a dry and thristy land. Did Y'Shua meet with any less resistance when He walked this land 2,000 years ago? But it was His love and acceptance that we are ALL God's children that caused the world to be changed and we to be changed into His likeness. Can we afford to be anything less?
Love in the face of adversity, weep in intercession over the sins of the world, pray for the peace of Yah's presence and the world will know that Y'Shua has walked in their midst in the form of you! They may not like us, they may even persecute us - for as they did to Y'Shua they will do to us - but if we live as Y'Shua lived it will not be said of us when the sheep are separated from the goats, "I never knew you."
　

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

2009-10-13T23:37:00.000-07:00

Shirley and Friend at Waterfall in the

City Square of Aqaba, Jordan

October 14, 2009
We are in Jordan now visiting friends. We have been taking the past few days getting oriented and seeing where things are. Aqaba sits on the northern tip of the Red Sea and we went down to the beach where you could look at 4 countries. Jordan, Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia. We drove down to the border with Saudi Arabia which is only about 10 miles from town and observed much new development and resorts being built. We were told it was mostly Saudi money that was behind the development and mostly Saudi families that would be buying the condos for a vacation destination.

Red Sea Beach --Israel in Background

There are many Egyptians that form up the working class here; much like the Thai people in Israel and the Mexicans in the US. Some Philippine nationals come here as well, more in the domestic trades. We also noted there is a strong Chinese representation here, especially in the new shopping malls that are being built here. As we walked into the shopping mall, there were stacks of goods recently unloaded from a truck that all had "Made in China" stamped on them. As we walked through the mall stores, we saw the same lable on most of the goods offered in the stores. The shop keepers were also Chinese in many cases, so it is evident thatChina has come into full swing here as in the US and around the globe. Another surprise was seeing a huge Safeway grocery store in the middle of town, can we use our "club card" here too? Wow! The farther away you go, the closer you get.

Safeway Store in Aqaba

It is observed that the rampant merchandising that is one of the characteristics of end-time empires is just as prevalent here as in those places that people are supposedly leaving for those very same reasons. The accuser of the brethern is not particular to geographic location, as long as he can ensnare you with stuff and financials and anything else that can take your mind off the One we say we serve. It is just as easy to slip into a day to day routine here as anywhere else and forget why you came in the first place. (We're not saying this of anyone specifically, it is just a tendency that must be gaurded against by all of us no matter where we are.) The geography is not what makes one safe. It is the dwelling in the presence--the relationship, that offers the place where it will not come nigh us--and that relationship can take place anywhere on the face of the earth.
It is amazing to be close to places that are mentioned in The Book. The Red Sea, Edom, Mt. Sier, Moab, Mt. Hor, Bosra just to name a few. There is much history here, and the promises to Abraham include this very soil. If you want to see what it looks like around here, get out a copy of "Lawrence of Arabia". It was filmed here and down the road at Wadi Rum. People here are quite proud of the fact that the movie was made here. Even though there are many historical inaccuracies in the movie, it still gives you an idea of the land and its people.
It is interesting to visit the produce markets and see the productivity of this land. The farmers here work diligently and produce a wide variety of foods that please the pallet. We really enjoy the Mediteranean style of eating, and the spices available here on practically every street corner are a wonder to behold. Just walking past a spice stand is a sensory treat! The colors and smells and sounds and feel of the place are so rich and exotic.

One of the Many Mosques in Aqaba

Another treat is the people who live here. Almost every child on the street wants to practice their English on you. They at least say,"Hello, how are you?" ;and they say it multiple times until they are satisfied that they have really gotten your attention. There is quite a mix of beliefs here. We have met many Orthodox Greek worshipers here. Obviously the majority is Muslim, with many calls to prayer from various minarettes throughout the city. There is an array from nominal through orthodox with varying styles of dress and performance. Men wear traditional Bedouin garb and Italian styled business suits. It is an eclectic collection that constantly varies and surprises. Many beautiful eyes are revealed behind full veils and I found out they can even swim in the Red Sea with their full covering. Even this late in October, it touches 100 f and a swim in the sea can cool anyone off.

Everyone Enjoys the Red Sea --Cool!

We will close this posting for now. Most assuredly, there will be more to come from this fascinating area. Until the next posting, as they say here--Salama.

Observations

2009-10-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

October 10, 2009
It is Shabbat in Jerusalem, and we are staying with some friends in the historic International Anglican School of Jerusalem. We will be going south in the morning by bus and once there, we will be able to post pictures again. I just wanted to share some impressions we have gathered while here during the Feast of Tabernacles. Jerusalem is such an alive place during this time. Even with threats of riots and strikes, everyone has turned out to celebrate with dancing and music and visiting and activities all through the city and any other form of rejoicing you can think of. Next to where we are staying, there is a yeshiva and we have been listening to them sing practically the whole night. There have been fire crackers going off through the night (we hope that’s what we heard) and a real sense of joy that cannot be contained or dampened. This week of rejoicing has been enriching and really does recharge your batteries. It’s kind of like Shabbat helps renew you to face the following week, so the feasts throughout the year help recharge and refocus us to be able to go back to our designated tasks with new energy and perspective.
Now it is time to re-enter the daily world of our occupation. It is time to come back to our tasks with the insight that we have gained from this time of contemplation and coming before YHWH in repentance first, followed by rejoicing that our name is written in the Lambs Book of Life. It is time to roll back the Torah scroll, and begin once again to work our way through the Parasha for each week. This coming back to the beginning of the cycle is important. It brings us around to where we have started from, only this time, with a little more wisdom and knowledge than before; a little more relationship than previously; relationship that we have built with each other and with our YHWH. Now we go through the cycle again, but with an enriched perspective—if we have been paying attention. We can approach similar pitfalls and dangers and make better decisions this time around. We must go this way again, because YHWH is refining us in the process. He is bringing us into the position of sons and daughters of His kingdom, and we must be tested and tried to be fit for the responsibility. What has taken place in the previous years must now be allowed to remain there. Both successes and failures must remain behind, and we must now forge ahead onto our next assignment. We must take each day as it comes, and deal with it through this forged wisdom that He has brought forth in us upon this anvil of trial and testing.
Here in Jerusalem, this seems to be clearer than elsewhere. One cannot dwell in the past here. Things change too rapidly. Life is too dear here. With much more danger in the air here, one does not live in the regrets of the past or the fear of the future. Today is the day we are living in, and what we are assigned to do must be done today. Tomorrow will have a different assignment. Not all here make that adjustment so well, but this is how we can live triumphantly amidst the turmoil of this geopolitical storm. The future that we can look to is what YHWH tells us in Revelation—He wins and those who come against Jerusalem/Israel will ultimately loose. This is the future we must trust in this present set of circumstances. As we see the events unfolding around us in the headlines and cross-reference them with the writings of the Prophets, we are admonished to “Lift up our heads, for our redemption draws close”. Yeshua is close now; even the Orthodox Rabbis say, “We can hear the footsteps of Moshiach.”
Watch!

Jerusalem

2009-10-09T03:45:00.000-07:00

Jaffa Gate --Jerusalem

October 9, 2009
We just wanted to give a quick update. We are in Jerusalem and were asked to not blog until the main group was out of the city. There has been a Heightened police and IDF presence during our time here, but we have not been affected by any of this. Our time in the Old City during Succot has been full of insight and revelation. We were blessed to be able to give a program with our stories and harp Wednesday evening and many were blessed. Since we have been to Jerusalem before, we were asked to be guides around the city to orient the "newbies". Many of the group were Participating in one of the 24 / 7 house of prayers here, and took the watch from 3-6 pm.
Another event occurred on Tuesday when the Korean film team had the musicians and dancers up on top of Mount of Olives performing "Days of Elijah".

"Days of Elijah" on Mt. of Olives

The sun broke out at the right timing for the third "take" and there was a sense about Prophetic what had just taken place. The clouds were Roiling around on the horizon as we were singing "riding on the clouds" and the sun rays were breaking through the clouds as we were singing "shining like the sun". One of our group was playing the Shofar - very well I might add-as we were singing "at the Trumpet sound, and there was a sense of something being broken as we sang and Danced. Only His time will tell.

Shofar on the Mountain--Over the

Eastern (Golden) Gate

We had quite a night Wednesday when we woke up in the wee hours with rain hitting our face. Since we were on a roof, there was little shelter, so many of the group ran Downstairs and finished out the night on the lobby floor. It was quite a site. Everyone was good Natured about it and the sun was soon out to dry everything off.

Hostel Lobby Scene After the Rain

We have made connections to give the main offering that you all have sent with us to the Messianic fellowship in Jerusalem, and we will give you a report when that is done. We want to thank those of you who Participated in this offering to our brothers and sisters here, and Assure you that what you have done has not gone unnoticed. YHWH has said not to come up to Jerusalem empty handed and you have Obeyed Him. We are confident that there will be much Multiplication - both ways! Once again, we Encourage you to begin planning to be here next year. Hag Sameach / Happy Feast!

Report of Gifts

2009-10-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

City on a Hill in PA Territory

October 3, 2009
We just wanted to give an update to some of the giving that has already taken place here in Israel from the money that you all collected and entrusted us to bring "up to Jerusalem" for the Feast of Tabernacles. We want to be open and let you know what this money is going to so we can be responsible to you and also let you receive a blessing from your participation with this project. We truly wish that you could be here and experience what we have seen here, and we encourage you not to miss next year.

Plaque at Israel Children's Fund

The first place we brought an offering to was in Shiloh to an organization known as Israel Children's Fund. This group led by David Rubin supports an extensive program dedicated to working with children who have suffered trauma from terror attacks; either themselves or their family or friends.

David Rubin and Director of Children's Program

The program is run very well and does amazing things with the resources available to them. We gave a symbolic offering of a gold coin and several silver coins having the verses in Isaiah in mind:
Isa 60:8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
Isa 60:9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.

Horse Program for Trauma Therapy

We could sense a prophetic fulfillment to these verses as we presented this offering. Another significance was that this is specifically being used for some children who are orphans, not all though. These are specifically mentioned in scripture as those who are to receive our tithes and offerings that we bring up to Jerusalem.

Music Therapy Program

The second group to receive from your offerings, was an underground church in PA territory. Due to severe persecution, we are not able to give you any pictures of these people or tell you where they live or meet, but we can assure you that this is a genuine part of the body of Yeshua, and it was a privilege to meet with some of the believers and encourage them with these offerings. We were really challenged as to what our faith in Torah and Yeshua really means. These people are under threat of life DAILY! They love not their lives unto death. One of the reasons we are being so careful is that only 2 weeks ago one of their number was shot through the head as an example to anyone who might be considering joining the small group of believers. Only 2 days ago, another man was beat up and a huge rock thrown down on his leg severly crushing it and sending him to the hospital. We don't even have a clue what it means to suffer for the sake of Yeshua. Please pray for these dear courageous brothers and sisters.
We are going up to Jerusalem on Monday, the 5th, and we will report to you where the remainder of the offerings are placed. We are trying to be responsive to the Ruach's leading. Continue to pray for us as we pray for you. The world news headlines are telling us how close we are to Yeshua's appearance. Watch and pray that you would be ready as things come to pass. We'll keep in touch.
Shalom.

End of the Harvest

2009-10-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

Picking the Harvest of 2009

October 1, 2009
Today we finished our last picking in the vineyards before Sukkot. Josh Waller said we had picked 35 tons of grapes in the past two weeks, almost doubling their previous harvest high of 20 tons. We have started taking people back to the airport for their return trip home, so we can see the beginning of the end for this year's harvest.

Salute to our Family Going to the Airport

We would have done more, but as I explained in one of our earlier postings, the sugar was late coming into the grapes so we had to do other things (mostly pulling weeds--see one of our earlier posts of lessons on weeds) and did not have enough days left before Sukkot to get the whole harvest in. There will be some returning here after Sukkot to continue in the harvest until it is completed. We will see if we are some of those.

Boys Building a Succah at School in Shiloh

We spent last evening after completing our work assignment in Shiloh, going back over to Mt. Gerazim. A dear friend of ours had contacted us to let us know that her daughter had just died suddenly with no known cause--only 29 years old and mother of 3 small boys. She asked us to go upon Mt. Gerazim and read the blessings of Deuteronomy 28 and blow the Shofar to call out to YHWH for Him to move on their behalf. So this we did. Our hearts were full of praise and prayer as we submitted this petition on behalf of our dear sister and her family. We have not yet heard back from them, but we are believing and praying for YHWH's glory to be revealed in what takes place in that family.

Worship is Always a Highlight

The verse of Hebrews 11:35 where it says that women received back their dead come to life, came to our minds as we prayed. With the signs of the times going on around us, is it not time to expect to see the mighty miracles that scripture records as a witness for us? Is it not time for the gospel to be preached not with mere words but with power and signs and wonders? Pray with us for this dear family won't you.
There is so much that has taken place this past 3 weeks that we have been here. I would highly recommend that you start saving and planning to be here next year. There are so many opportunities opening up for more people to enter more harvest fields next year. Today we were picking for a new vineyard owner who was willing to "try us out". By the end of the day, he was very pleased and invited us back. Shiloh vineyard's were another first for this year and yesterday while we were picking there, I asked the field manager how we were doing. He smiled broadly and said "You are all like a machine--it is already almost done and not even lunch yet!" He was very pleased.It seems that the Waller family have been given much favor in this region, and we even had Korean and South African people helping with the harvest this week. It is amazing to watch YHWH begining to gather His people from the 4 corners of the earth. WOW!
Tommy takes us touring to places that have no tour busses. The sites that we have seen are ignored by most people who come to Israel and the Holy Land. But they are sites that should be on everyone's itenerary. This is what is called the "Heartland" of Israel. This is where everything begins and comes back to. YHWH made His covenant with Abraham not 15 miles from here. Israel ratified that covenant centuries later on Mt. Gerazim and Mt. Ebal, not 10 miles from here. The Tabernacle rested with the Shekinah presence of YHWH for 369 years in Shiloh, not 15 miles from here, and this is also where YHWH speaks directly to Samuel. What rich history, and yet very few people come. These are the places that Tommy brings us to to introduce us to the rich history that is threatened to be given away for "peace". If you come to the harvest next year, you will never see things the same again.
And not just the history will change you, but the opportunity to be in community with incredible people who become your family over the days and weeks you spend with them. People who love Israel and love Torah and understand the times we are living in. By the time we have started to take people back to the airport, there are many tears, exchanged addresses and promises to keep in touch. This time together has been precious and we will not be the same for having had this time together.

Modern Day Israeli Pioneers

And not only the people who come from the nations to here, but also those we meet here and begin to establish friend ships with. They can't believe we will come into the West Bank to see them and they are so encouraged we have come to visit with them and help them. Such a simple way to make such a huge difference in the world. I challenge you each--make a commitment to be with us here in Israel for the harvest of 2010--YHWH willing.

Yom Kippur

2009-09-27T22:58:00.000-07:00

September 28, 2009
Today is Yom Kippur in Israel. The morning sun is just touching the horizon and not a vehicle is moving in the streets. Only people walking and visiting and praying. I too am in prayer, and arose early to pen these thoughts and prayers to share with you and whomever you choose to share this with. Yom kippur has a very different feel to it here in the Land of Israel. There is a much more somber tone than other places where I have celebrated this time. People are much more reflective here. Yes, on any other day of the year, they are as driven and hyper as anywhere else in the world, but on Shabbat and the High Shabbatons, especially Yom Kippur, everything stops--rests from the harried pace of the world and comes aside to spend time with YHWH. Some people who are not particularly religious use the time to spend with their families and friends. It was wonderful last evening to walk along the streets and see all the families greeting each other and the kids with their bikes and trikes and whatever other means of transport they could muster and take these streets from the cars and turn them into a giant fellowship hall. Kids would push their coasters up the hill and zoom down--smiles pasted on their faces. Once and awhile there was a scolding for a near miss and a wagging finger from Abba to be more careful. I could just see the morning headline, "Trike and Bike Collide at HaBracha Intersection--No Major Injurues Reported".
We have been challenged here to reflect on our lives before the perfect light of YHWH's presence. We have been exhorted to search within and bring our defects before His throne now, voluntarily and receive the cleansing that He offers before we are commanded to appear before Him on the Day of Judgement and allow Him to find our defects. Either way, we appear before Him either in mercy or in judgement. The choice is ours. Mercy triumphs over justice, and that is the way YHWH prefers for us to operate. If we don't think we have defects, He reminds us that "the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desparately wicked". Some of us think we are "good" people, just go to any funeral and hear all the good things said in the eulogy and then listen to the comments made later by those who really knew the person. We may even have the best of intentions, but sometimes, things don't turn out as expected and we hurt people we love. Or sometimes we are just careless and people suffer for it. All of this stuff is what we can bring before the King of the Universe and offer as our worship to Him. Coming before Him to touch our lives and restore our Shalom. Remember, Shalom's full meaning is: destroying the strong leading (authority) that brings caos into our lives. The enemy seeks to rob, kill and destroy, and YHWH seeks to restore, recreate, redeem and bring us to our full redemptive purpose for which He created us.
On this Yom Kippur, I challenge you to bring your life before the throne of YHWH and let him restore you. Let Him recreate you , and let Him redeem you and bring you to that purpose in life for which He created you. Let Him inscribe your name into the Lamb's Book of Life. And that is the blessing that will be said over and over today, here in the Land of Israel---May your name be written in the Book of Life. Chag Samaech and Shalom.

The Galilee

2009-09-27T22:05:00.000-07:00

Crossing the Jordan River

Camels Crossing the Road

September 25, 2009
Thursday, the 24th, our team got a much needed break and went touring the Galilee. We had a delightful day, leaving around 8:30 a.m. heading east toward the Jordan River Valley, an exteremly fertile area with all kinds of agriculture going on. This portion of the Jordan Valley is under control of the country of Jordan and I must say they are making good use of this land. We followed the border between Israel and Jordan for awhile going past numerous date plantations and more vineyards and other agriculture we were not familiar with.

Date Palms and Grapes

Our first stop was at the archaeological park of Bet Shean. During its heyday it was the center of the Decapolis region for hedonistic living! The town had spas and hot tubs and cool pools and steam rooms complete with underground plumbing, shopping malls and theaters and arenas for entertainments; like throwing people into the arenas with wild animals. Pretty much like modern-day football! It looks like we aren't so inventive afterall - Solomon did say that there was nothing new under the sun!

Sports Arena at Bet Shean

We proceeded from there up onto the Golan. What magnificient views and what good reasons for the Israelies not to give the Golan Heights back to the Syrians. From the heights you can control the entire Galilee region. The area is full of bunkers built by the Syrians when they controlled the area, from these locations they would fire down on the Israelie towns.

Syrian Built Bunker on Golan Heights

The Golan is beautiful and much agriculture takes place there as well. Tommy directed us to an overlook where we had lunch. A beautiful, quiet olive grove with picnic tables overlooking the Sea of Galilee. We enjoyed humus and pitas and black-bean salad and taboulie, took lots of pictures and then loaded up for the trip down from the Golan and on to Capernaum.

Our Group Looking Over Galillee

They grow a lot of bananas in the Jordan River / Galilee area. On all the ripening fruit of both the date and the bananas they cover with bags to keep the mediterranean fruit fly from destroying the crops. They also put under shade cloth a vast amount of their agriculture. I mentioned to Steve that if we had done that in Bangor, maybe we would have had a better garden. He said probably so but that would have been a lot of work. I agree!!!

Ancient Synagogue at Kafar Nachem (Capernaum)

From Capernaum we went to Tiberias and took a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee with Daniel, a Jewish believer in Y'Shua, who is a recording artist as well as boat captain. Across the lake he was playing Michael W. Smith over the sound system. Then he stopped the boat and demonstrated how the disciples would have fished with their nets, but unlike them we didn't catch any fish! He then led us in a time of wonderful worship, singing and praising and dancing on the boat.

Daniel Showing us How to Fish

All to soon it was time to go back to shore and say farewell. We were set free for an hour to find our own supper - we choose a schwarma stand and finished the day with some gelato ice-cream. Getting back to the vans we soon discovered that one of the vans had a flat tire and it took some doing to get it changed. The lug nut wrench wasn't cooperating with the lug nuts!

Flat Tire!

So a bunch of us played Bible Trivia, jeopardy style while we waited. We finally got home around 10:00p.m., a very full and fulfilling day.

Shiloh and Morning Star Communities

2009-09-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

Picking Grapes on Mt. Gerizim

September 23, 2009
This is digressing a bit, but I want to catch you up. Tuesday we finally got to harvest some grapes in one of Nir's vineyards on Mount Gerizim. All of us were on the mountain - aound 80 people - so the 4 tons that Nir needed for that day we harvested fairly quickly.

Grapes!! 35 Pounds per Basket

A rabbi was on hand to make sure we did everything properly. It was an educational experience, he would walk up and down the rows looking at the grapes and if a cluster didn't look mature enough to him he would have it cut off and cast to the ground and when he was finally satisfied with what was left then we could all go in and harvest the grapes that were left on the vines. Nir came along after him and picked up all the grapes on the ground and took them to his personal winery. He sells most of his grapes to other wineries, but this year he is hoping to keep back several tons for his own use. He is quite excited about the yield of his harvest this year.

Weighing Out 4 Tons of Grapes

We came home, cleaned up and headed off to Shiloh for a tour of the ancient Tabernacle sight and a bar-b-que. David Rubin - former governor of Shiloh - was our tour guide, he has written a book titled, God, Israel and Shiloh in which he describes his own personal journey to the west bank of Israel. He told us some of his story - being attacked by Palestinian gun fire late one night as he was traveling home from Jerusalem in 2002 with his three year old son and both of them being shot - a compelling story of YHVH's miraculous intervention that saved their lives.

David Rubin Leading Us Through Tell Shiloh

That evening two other Israelies spoke to us - one talked about the history of the land and the other, a rabbi, told us tales of establishing outposts on the mountains of Judea/Samaria, a real how-to manual he was. Anyone interested!

Any fellow that was interested was invited to camp-out that night in Shiloh. Steve stayed and slept under the stars - only he said there wasn't much sleeping going on as the young boys that also stayed were pretty ramped up from all the evenings excitement and they didn't calm down for quite awhile! Dinner was a grand affair with hot dogs and hamburgers and kebobs and potato salad and cucumber/tomato salad and other things I can't remember and of course chocolate chip cookies of various sorts for dessert.

Steve Flipping Burgers and Dogs

Worship ended the evening and I must admit we were all quite pooped when we got back to Ariel! It was a 5:00a.m. to 11:00p.m. day and we had to be back at it at 5:00a.m. for the next day! Short nights these harvest days are!!!

The next day we were back at Shiloh with the promise that we would finally get to harvest Shiloh grapes. The Shiloh folks are quite cautious about who they let harvest their grapes and so far all we have been allowed to do is pull weeds - they are checking us out, seeing if we'll keep smiling and not turn vulgar - it's a hard job, but so far everyone has maintained a good attitude. True to form, eleven guys were pulled off the team to go pull weeds in the olive groves and the rest of us were driven out the back door of Shiloh over hill and down dale, on roads no one was familiar with, until we got to an entirely new community called Morning Star.

View of Morning Star Outpost and Vineyards

We drove in the gate and through the established community and on to the outpost community. Established communities have permanent housing, outpost communities are mostly "caravans" (travel trailers) on pillar foundations, working to become permanent communities.

Kobe and the Rabbi Inspecting the Grapes

We met Kobe, the vineyard owner, who was excited that we had come to pick for him. As the morning wore on he became more and more excited - for we picked 6 tons of white wine grapes in less than three hours with no injuries! We are sent into the vineyards in pairs of two working each side of the vines. It is quite easy to clip your partners finger instead of the grape clusters especially in the green grapes for they grow much more densely woven in the vines than do the red grapes. Just the other day we were told someone had lost one of their fingers in just this way.

The Harvesters at Morning Star Vineyard

We had lunch around 11:30 and watched them load the bins of grapes on the truck which two rabbis were supervising. The tractor they were using so reminded me of the tractor Steve and I used to own, very much with a mind of its own! Mostly worn out, with little fine motor skills left! The fellow operating it though was a master and the few mishaps we blamed on the tractor not the driver.

After lunch Kobe was so thankful he took us up to a lookout that in all probability no one like us has ever been to. At the end of a dirt/rock road (best driven with 4-wheel drive vehicles) was "my outpost!" It was spectacular! I would love to go camp up there for a few days, the view was to the northern end of the Dead Sea, Jericho, the Judean wilderness, I believe someone said Mount Nebo - it was breathtaking!
Tommy wanted to do a little worshipping up there before we left and he asked if anyone wanted to pray, when no one else offered I volunteered and then the Holy Spirit took over and that mountain top was claimed as Tommy describes it.

Overlook of the Judean Wilderness

When we were in Israel in 2006 for Succot, we visited Masada and the Dead Sea area and at that time I felt such a draw to this part of Israel, again on this mountain top the same inner draw is present. Could it be that our tribal inheritance calls out to us when we are on our land letting us know that we are home? HOME, I can't wait to come HOME for good!

More Lessons from Weeds

2009-09-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

Pulling Weeds

September 23, 2009
Today was another lesson from pulling weeds. We were sent out into an olive orchard to pull weeds out from under the trees before they were harvested so that the canvas they spread to catch the olives will lie flat and there won't be any olives roll off and be wasted. It seems like such a simple thing, and the drudgery of pullling the weeds so disinteresting, especially when there are grapes to be picked already. But today, we have been given the assignment of pulling the weeds and that is what we will do--happily; with a smile on our face.

Area Near Shiloh

The first lesson to be observed out of these circumstances is the lesson of following the Master's orders; regardless of what we would rather be doing. As bondslaves of Yeshua, our only concern is, what is the task the Master has set us about to accomplish. It really doesn't matter what we may want to do. What we set our hand to accomplish is what He has given us to do. That's it, period. We must trust that He knows what is needed more than we can know. He has a larger perspective and more information than we do, so even if we don't understand why we are doing what we have been commanded to do, we can go ahead and do it, trusting that He knows why, and that's good enough for us. Just obey, don't worry about the results. Don't get caught up in the solutions, just set about doing the task at hand.

One of Many Olive Orchards in the Land

Another lesson is the lesson of fellowship. As we worked under the olive trees, on our knees, dirt under our fingernails, we visited. We told each other our stories and histories and shared our testimonies. Time passed pleasantly and lunch came around quickly. I was reminded of the passage in Revelation that says that the saints overcame by the word of their testimony and the blood of the Lamb and did not lover their lives even unto death. The power of the "Word of their testimony" took on a new dimention as we shared our testimonies under the olive trees. I could see how we were strengthened as we shared. We gained new spiritual insite and knowledge through each other's experience. We became more unified and formidable in spiritual warfare as we prayed together.

A Local Observes our Work Quality

The other lesson I would like to share is the understanding of how destructive weeds can be. They sometimes intertwine their roots among the olive trees so tightly that it is vertually impossible to get them separated. Others of them snap off at ground level as you are trying to pull them and it is certain that they will return in full force in the spring. These roots that remain, will continue to propgate and pull food and water from the soil, depleting what is available for the desired tree and crop. Some of the weeds are vicious thorns that scratch our arms frequently and sometimes penetrate our gloves, leaving thorns in our fingers and hands that have to be extracted before comfort can return. My left arm that pulls the weeds back so I can get at the roots is a mass of scratches after having pulled weeds for several days now. Sin causes pain and injury. The enemy seeks to rob, kill and destroy.
Tomorrow, we go back to harvest grapes again. This time we go to Shiloh, to a vineyard that we will pick for the first time. They are excited we are coming and amazed that we would come so far, and then cross into the West Bank to help them. We are truely being a blessing to our brothers and sisters of Yahudah and they are visibly moved. It is worth it all!

Yom Terruah--Rosh HaShana--Shabbat

2009-09-19T23:14:00.000-07:00

Sound the Shofar --- September 19, 2009
Today is the sounding of the shofar to announce the beginning of the new year. It is also thebeginning of the 10 days of awe leading up to Yom Kippur--The Day of Judgement. Then, 5 days later, we begin Succot.

Our Erev Shabbat Table

This is the time of year of celebration as well as repentence and personal and national reflection. We have welcomed the weekly Shabbat as well and are grateful for this time of rest. We have been very busy this week between work in the fields and tours to historic and holy sites; going to bed late and getting up early. It has been a rich time and we have all been changed in many ways. Our eyes have been opened to new perspectives, our ears have heard new sounds, and our minds have gathered new thoughts. We will not leave here the same as we have come. And now we have this time of Shabbat to reflect and rest. Praise Him!
There is an excitement that is palpable in the air throughout the Land of Israel. The market place is bustling and everyone is out in the streets. There are greetings and salutations permeating the air and smiles on most faces. We took our musical instruments and voices down to the "mercatz" (market place) and began to sing and dance. Shortly, we attracted quite a crowd. One religious Jew was angry with us yelling that we were trying to hide Christian theology under Jewish songs and dance, but he was an abbarency and soon gone, leaving the vast majority of the crowd to enjoy the music and fellowship. Many asked when we were coming back. A local news cameraman was filming us and interviewing us and gave an invitation to come to the studio to do a segment for broadcasting.

David and Ami Ortiz

There was also a Korean camera crew that was filming what we were doing to take back to their church in Korea. They had come to do a documentary film on the bombing of the Ortiz's home 18 months ago when Ami was almost killed. They had received an e-mail to pray for Ami, and Koreans know how to pray! Now, they had come to follow up on the story and bring it back to their church by film. Some of our group got to be actors in the movie. We have also been asked to do some more music and be filmed by them when we go up to Jerusalem. They are also very interested in learning about how to get involved in helping to work in the harvest. The Wallers are going international! Tommy was talking with a group from South Africa this week about the same thing, so much is happening for the Kingdom as we speak.
The Grapes are Ready!

We will be harvesting starting 6:00am on Tuesday morning. The sugar has finally come up to good levels in the grapes and we have done the necessary preparation work so the harvest can clip along at good speed. We have also done the spiritual work of preparation.

Worship Team for Yom Terruah

Yom Terruah Celebration--Food!

Last evening, Shabbat here, Zach lead us all in a time of searching our hearts for those things that still keep us from living to our full redemptive purpose. There was much teshuva/repentence and cleansing as we bared our souls before YHWH. As we came out of the meeting, it was raining great huge soaking drops--showers of blessings! Rimona Frank was there with us and has spent her whole life in Israel. She said she had never seen it rain on Rosh HaShana before and saw it as a great sign of YHWH's favor and blessings.
Continue to pray for us here as we pray for you. YHWH is bringing His plans into reality, and the lessons of the harvest we have been learning and living here are reminding us of where we stand in the time stream of history. Be watchful and pray!

Palestinian Territory--September 17, 2009

2009-09-18T03:31:00.000-07:00

Into Palestinian Territory--September 17, 2009
Today was an opportunity that could really be called a once in a life time. We were given the opportunity to go into the heart of the West Bank which is under the administration of the PA. The city of Nablus (known as Shechem in the Scriptures) is home to almost 500,000 Palestinians and as we drove through, we could see the bustling marketplace alive with the celebration of Ramadan, and had a unique experience of being in a traffic jam, surrounded by taxis--you would have thought we were in New York City. On the east side of town we stopped and visited a Greek Orthodox Church that claims to have Jacob's well in its basement. It was beautiful and sadly very lightly attended. We had a group of 61 people and we spontaneously broke out in singing and the acoustics were astonishing--what an experience. The curator was visibly moved. Right in the heart of Muslim territory, we were praising our King with abandon. Wow!
Before Nablus, we visited the town of Sabastia (which is Shamron or Samaria in the Scriptures) where King Ahab and his wife Jezabel reined. There were many Roman ruins there and quite a bit of the ruins of the palace of Ahab. We had opportunity to pray in the ruins of a Bizantine era church and we used the prayer of Daniel 9 as the basis for what we felt was a necessary time of repentance and teshuva for Israel's sins of the past. We are Israel after all, aren't we? Read Daniel 9 and see if like him, we need to own the sins of our fathers. Here too we had opportunity to lift our voices in praise to our King. We had opportunity to bless our Palestinian guide and bus driver, and they were visibly touched. We found out later that there is an underground church, which is very small--less than 20 members. Two of them were executed recently when they were found out. We in America don't even have a clue what it means to suffer for the sake of Yeshua!
Once again the scriptures took on new meaning as we walked on the very places that scripture describes in 1st Kings in its accounting of the reign of King Ahab. Samaria was built on the top of a hill so it has incredible views of the surrounding countryside in all 360 degrees. Any advancing enemy could be spotted by the watchman at the gates well in advance and the elevation gave them a tremendous tactical advantage. Unfortunately, there was no water well within the city and they had to depend on cisterns, so they could be easily seiged and overcome by the effects of not getting any food or water into the city. Good news and bad news you might say. The story of Jehu coming against Samaria really popped out in understanding as you stood on the lookout site and looked out, imagining seeing a cloud of dust in the distance being kicked up by a chariot. The field of Naboth that Jezabel killed Naboth for so that she could give to Ahab made so much more sense because you could see that the lower fields were fertile and there was water available there. So much to see and understand.
I believe much was accomplished in YHWH's plan for His kingdom. We go out into the day, obeying what He commands us and taking the opportunities He sets up for us, walking it out. We were told later that the people who served us lunch (what a sumptuous Mediteranean Style feast it was) were very taken with the way we treated them and the openness we showed towards them. They were also very greatful that we would cross over into their territory and bring good business to them. They have been very isolated from the rest of the world since the intafada of 2002. Any business that comes to them is few and far between.

Weeds and Harvest

2009-09-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

September 15, 2009

The official Waller work experience in Israel began Sunday. We are divided into three teams with Zac, Josh and Caleb as team leaders. Steve and I are a part of Team 2 and Josh is our team leader. So far we have pruned 350 olive trees on Mount Gerizim, pulled weeds in the grape vineyards of Shiloh and toured the area of Shechem and Elon Moreh. This is our day job, for our second job we are house parents to 18 women ages 16 to 60. Steve also is one of the designated drivers who periodically is called upon to get up in the wee hours of the a.m. and pick up some excited but weary soul at the Tel Aviv airport. We were told that this would be a working vacation! (They weren't kidding!!!)

Today we were in the vineyards of Shiloh and David Ruben, the former governor of the Shiloh district came and interviewed us. He had a videographer with him and they are making a promotional video for "Christians", mainly in the US, to get involved with the Shiloh community. Steve and I were interviewed as well as others so maybe one day we'll get to see if we made the cut. The rest of the day we spent pulling weeds in row after row of grapes. They are harvesting the fruit, but we are the delegated weed pullers. There are some pretty brutal thistles that have to be removed and something like crab grass and some really stickery grasses that cling to everything and when you do get the grasses removed millions of tiny thorns stay stuck in your clothes and when you walk they scratch your skin. There are lessons here, how about this one; the first shall be last and the last first and maybe this one, he who would save his life shall lose it and he who would lose his life for my sake and the gospel shall save it. Maybe even Y'Shua's story about the bondslave found in Luk 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
Luk 17:8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Luk 17:9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
Luk 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Or this one:
Luk 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Luk 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luk 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

So with a happy and joy-filled heart we serve as we are called and rejoice that our Heavenly Father may call us faithful in that which is least.

Mt. Gerizi--September 14, 2009

2009-09-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Mt. Gerizim--September 14, 2009
We have begun working. Yesterday, we spent the day pruning the olive orchard that Nir owns. We also spent quite a bit of time getting the irrigation system back in working order. It felt really good to get out and get our hands right into the mix and make an impact. Nir was quite surprised at the progress we made and with the level of productivity we displayed, he began to invision new projects for us to work on during our stay here. It looks like we might be pouring cement in his winery by the end of the week.
Today, we did more history touring. We started on Mt. Gerizim at a point that looked over Jacob's field, a place that scripture records Jacob paid Shechem 100 pieces of silver for. Yet this very land is under dispute and scheduled to be given to the Palistinians if the "Arab Peace Plan" is initiated. We read from Deuteronomy and Joshua about the ceremony that Israel held as they came into the land--reading the blessings from Mt. Gerizim and the curses from Mt. Ebal. It was quite a revelation to note that this very area scheduled to go under PA control was the first area where Israel ratified their covenant with YHWH. The Israelies that live in the area call this the "Heartland" of Israel. Nir even labels his wine with the Heartland label. The Septuigent translated this area as the "navel of the world"--the place most closely connected to Heaven. And now it is considered as a "settlement" that would have forced evacuation (Gush Katif style) if our sitting president has his way. Most of the world doesn't even know what they are talking about and certainly have not been here to see what is really here!
Our other stop in the afternoon was at Elon Mare, which is understood to be the place where Abraham had his conversation with YHWH about counting the stars and his decendents being as numerous as the stars and the promise of the land that was an integral part of the covenant that YHWH made with Abraham. The covenant with Abraham and his seed, is not complete without the prescribed land that was included in that covenant. That land prescribed was much more than is present Israel, and yet the world is pressuring Israel to give up more. And YHWH through His prophets promises the judgments He will bring on those nations that try to force Israel to divide. As we stood on top of the mountain and gazed over the landscape, peering over into Jordan, up to Lebanon, over to the Mediteranean Sea, and down towards the Negev, we could begin to see the enormity of the promise that YHWH made to Abraham and His seed. As we looked to the wide expanse of the sky over that high peak and imagined the number of stars that would be visible that night, we began to understand just a little of the incredible promise that YHWH made with Abraham---and us, who are now heirs, according to the promise. Heady stuff for grape pickers!
We are living in fantastic times. The prophecies and the headlines are matching up. And we here on Mt. Gerizim, picking grapes and pruning olives are beginning to understand that we are here for a purpose--perhaps the begining of that fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, "and foreigners shall come and dress your vines". What a privelege!

Harvest-- September 12, 2009

2009-09-12T01:49:00.000-07:00

Harvest September 12, 2009
We have come here for the harvest of grapes on Mt. Gerizim (the Mount of Blessings) in Samaria, Israel. This is disputed territory within the West Bank that is being held by a small community of both Samaritans and Jews. They believe that this is a land YHWH has given them and they will not leave it willingly if the rest of the world tells them it is to belong to someone else.
A funny thing about grapes is that they are not ready to be harvested until there is enough sugar developed within the grapes (called the brix) to produce the right mix for crushing into wine. If you pick too soon, the wine will be inferior or wasted. So we must wait until the brix is sufficient for a good vintage of wine. This is totally up to the grapes and the sun exposure, soil conditions and water availability. We can not hurry it along. It will happen when it happens and not a moment sooner.
It seems that we have come too early, but this is the way it should be. When the harvest is ready, we will be ready--until then--we watch and wait and do other things that need to be done. We occupy ourselves on a day to day basis, ready to drop everything and begin the harvest at a moments notice. The owner of the vineyard will give us the word.
There is much to learn here about how we are to be in readiness for the "The Harvest" of YHWH. He tells us that there is a "fulness of the gentiles" that will be completed and then the signal will be given for the harvest to begin. YHWH is waiting, and so are we, for a "Brix" number so that He can begin to harvest His vineyard and start the "crush" for the new vintage of wine. We as His bondslaves must be working at our assigned tasks, ready to drop everything at a moments notice, and begin the harvest. That is why we must be diligent to shed the entanglements of Babylon now so that we are free to be in the watching and waiting mode--able to drop everything when the harvest command goes forth.
For now, we watch and wait. Waiting in readiness--Watching the events that unfold in the world around us, and watching in readiness for the signal to begin "The harvest". Even so, come Yashua. For today, our task is to rest, for it is Shabbat. Even in the work around the harvest, there is rest. Praise YHWH!

Ariel, Israel-- September 11, 2009

2009-09-11T07:01:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2009

Ariel Israel--"The Settlements" as far as the rest fo the world thinks. We slept last night, and will for the next 3 weeks, in a home where a young man was severely injured from a bomb explosion. At one time it was not even known if he would live. There are still evidences of the blast present today, "momentos" of the battle that continues between different world views. Everything becomes REAL in this environment, raw and palpable. I sit here this morning, reading the Torah Parasha for this week in Devarim//Deuteronomy 30 and YHWH promises a full restoration of "All Israel" to the "Full Land" that He promised to Avraham, Issac and Yaakov. This includes even more than prescribed by Israel's present borders--Much More! This pressure from the nations of the world to diminish the borders of "The Land" is met with YHWH's promise to expand the borders--to restore all things-- to bring back "All Israel" (those who chose to follow His Torah as their halacha/pathway--who chose to make teshuva/repent from the world and its systems and turn back to YHWH). This is what YHWH promises and prophecies to do for those who choose life and blessing instead of death and cursing. These choices are very real here. If you choose to follow YHWH's Torah, which He promises Life and blessing for, you could actually be killed for that choice by someone with an alternate world view. They may even think that they are doing YHWH a favor. Yashua tells us this would happen.

So by choosing life you might actually die. What a paradox. How can this make any sense? Yashua further tells us if we are willing to loose our lives, we will save them. Now we begin to see that our focus must be turned away from this confused system of Babylon--the world, and we must refocus on the eternal of what YHWH has promised. Even here in Israel, we see a lot of Babylon. The way people dress, the hectic scurrying around, the honking of horns to get moving, the desperate commercialism of the marketplace; all these and more are evident here in Israel as signs of the Babylonian (confusion) system. In order to leave Babylon, you don't go to a geographic place, you must cut it away from your heart. You must recognize the things that take your focus away from His kingdom and cause you to look at what man does and away from what YHVH does. This is Babylon and it is different for every person.

The people we continue to pick up at the airport are dear folk. We have met many of them at the Family Week the Waller family conducted this spring in Kentucky. Many of them have returned to the land, having harvested before, but others are here for the first time, eyes wide open with wonder as they walk this ancient land. There is a common bond--servanthood. We have all come to serve our brother/sister Yahudah/Jews. We believe it is more important to live a sermon to them than to preach one with words. They must see our love for them more than hear us speak words that can be easily misunderstood. We must make them ask "why are you doing this?" We must not expect anything from them in return. We have come to LOVE Yahudah, and that is all.

Leaving for Israel--September 8, 2009

2009-09-10T04:13:00.000-07:00

We're sitting in the Roy Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City waiting to board for the flight to Washington/Dulles. I am a bit apalled at all the luggage piled on the luggage cart, between the three of us there are six bags, one harp and an assortment of carry-on bags. Whew! We are staying for just short of three months and there is a seasonal weather change to think about and we are bringing camping things with us but... I must admit I am embarassed! And then as I was sitting here being embarassed about how we would look and the trouble all this stuff may cause when we are picked up at the Tel Aviv airport and our other travels, The Father dropped this thought into my mind; This is it - all you have is what you have with you. And then this thought expanded to, look what you have left and I began to think back over the last seven years. We moved from a 2200 sq.ft home to live in a 29 foot 5th wheel and a 36' x 48' barn. On that move we packed up everything and then began accumulating more things with the vision in mind of establishing a community on our ten plus acres of property. Two years ago Father began impressing our hearts to down-size, so I began to go through boxes that were still packed from the move we had done 5 years previous. A lot of things went to thrift stores and the dump. We actually carved out some space in the barn to have it usable for more than storage! Several months later Father gave us an assignment to make a proclamation in the capitols of the United States. We thought that we might not come back to California from that assignment so we went through another clearing out. When we left in a 32' motorhome with the stuff that we wanted to keep that August I believed that I could truly walk away from everything that was left behind. So many loads went to the dump and the Salvation Army, but we did end up coming back to California and we set up housekeeping on the property through the winter. In February of 2009, The Father started speaking to us about living like a bedouin and then in May the Word came to "pack". Again more trips to the dump and Salvation Army as we sorted through and let go yet again. This time our down-sizing was to a 5'x10' enclosed utility trailer pulled by our truck. So now as we are on our way to Israel we have down-sized yet again to two bags that weigh exactly (according to the airport scales) 50 pounds each. Can we live with what we have if this happens to be the trip that we don't come home from? It's a question worth pondering. And if circumstances required an even further down-size...? The Apostle Paul reports to us that everyday he beat his body into submission that after everything he might finish the race and win the prize. After everything is said and done - have we won the race to the finish line or have our entaglements with Babylon caused us to look back like Lot's wife and perish?
We are learning to live on a lot less than what we used to have and if The Father asks us for even more we can and hopefully will do that too. We must realize the "prize" Paul was referring to is so far greater than absolutely anything else and in light of that Reality the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the Light of His glory and grace!.
Before anybody begins thinking that we're not planning on coming back we do have return tickets for the week of Thanksgiving. Our plan is to celebrate Thanksgiving with our children, but YHVH alone knows the whole plan and we as His bond-slaves put His needs, wants and desires ahead of our own. Our prayer is that His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven - right here in this place in our life and in yours.
Please remember that ideas and opinions expressed on this blog page are ours and how YHVH is speaking and leading us. What He does with us may not neessarily apply to you. Please seek Him for direction and counsel as to what He would have you do in and with and through your life.

August 31, 2009

2009-08-31T14:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Mishpocha:
We have been in Southern California with Howard and Margo and their Shabbat group and received some wonderful words from the Ruach. We taught on “The Web of Babylon” that included the story of “The Spirit and the Bride” for the first session. The second session was “The Bondslaves of Yeshua” and many present later revealed how they were personally touched by the Ruach with revelation for their lives. We later watched the DVD on Daniel’s Timeline which wrapped the day up with maximum impact.
Another event taking place in the skies over us through the weekend was the incredible amounts of smoke coming from the wildfires of the LA area. We visited the Thompson’s last evening and their neighbor, a fire fighter, was killed yesterday in the fire, so the loss and destruction of these fires was keenly felt. Lynn commented this morning that the smoke and the destruction and the death were all impressing on her spirit how close to judgment we are. “It is later than we think!” is a message that we have received from several sources and as watchmen, we pass it on to you for your consideration.
Tomorrow we leave California headed ultimately for Oklahoma City where we will board a plane for Israel on September 8. We will visit friends/mishpocha on the way through Colorado and Kansas. Our tickets have us returning November 23, so we can spend Thanksgiving with our children and grandchildren. After that, our schedule is completely open so we will be available to go wherever YHWH shows us.
We are in great anticipation to be headed towards Jerusalem for the Fall Feasts. We have collected about $4000 to present to the Messianic Congregation in Jerusalem we have told you about. We are told to not come up to Jerusalem empty handed and it is an honor for us to be carrying your offerings along with our own to present to the believers in Jerusalem.

Shalom

Tule Lake California

2009-08-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

August 16, 2009
Have you ever noticed how The Father’s lightening flashes of inspiration seem so magnificently wise and understandable at the moment and then comes your part of working out what He has put in and that is ______________ (well, I will leave you to fill in that blank for yourself). Y’Shua said if you want to be my disciple then take up your execution stake and follow me and if you think they won’t persecute you then have another think! (Shirley’s paraphrase) I believe it was Charles Wesley, who one day as he was riding through the woods on his horse was bemoaning his relationship with Abba because life had just be too good lately, i.e. no persecution, he was calling out to God, saying, “Do you still love me, Father? There have been no trials or struggles lately, Am I still in your will?” When suddenly a rock came flying out of the forest and struck him knocking him from his horse. When he recovered from the blow he sat up and began praising God. “Thank you,” he said, “now I am reassured that you still love me.”
We haven’t gotten to the place where we, like Mr. Wesley, call out to YHVH for persecution, but being doers of YHVH’s will seems to automatically put one in that place of receiving just that. This weekend we were at an Assembly of God church in Tulelake, CA, where they were celebrating their 75th anniversary. The church was filled with saints who have stood in the gap for decades and their faith and steadfastness in the midst of trials was a testament to us of the faithfulness of YHVH. Our Abba does promise us joy for the journey and you all were a definite witness to us of that fact. Thank you Tulelake for your kindness, your hospitality, and for accepting us as part of your family, may the Shalom of YHVH continue to rest upon you all.
The word of YHVH for us this season of our walk with Him began with “live like a Bedouin”. As we explored what that meant to us we were led to buy a tent. The word was expanded to “pack” a few months later and then “leave” California. Steve in the introduction he does for The Peregrinnatti talks about the ancient Celtic “sent ones” who built leather boats and set out in them without benefit of sail or rudder or oar, only the “wind” directing the little boat with its occupants. Wherever they landed it was their commission to tell the gospel story. We don’t have a leather boat, we have a truck, but the “wind” is still directing our travels. May His Wind direct us to you, our dear Mishpochah!
Yesterday I was reading Psalm 91 and something popped out at me that I had not really put attention to before, vs. 10 says, “no evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.” That word “tent” is what stood out. We have left our home, more than left, we have sold our home, we are without a home, but we do have a tent. One might say, that was your own choosing, and yes this is true as we all have choices, but back to my thought. Vs. 1 lays the conditions for the rest of the Psalm bearing fulfillment in our lives, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” In our tents, the Greater Exodus, we who dwell in the shelter of the Most High will be protected. Is it time to live in our tents? I read a news article recently that was talking about families that had lost their homes to foreclosure, gathering in campgrounds, living in tents and becoming community, sharing, helping, supporting one another. Being gathered, living in tents, a foretaste perhaps of things soon to come for us?! Are you ready to live in tents? In your tent you will be protected providing that you are dwelling in the shadow of the Most High. It’s exciting times we are living in, not without trails, testings and tribulations, but keep your eyes focused on His and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the Light of His Glory and Grace.
Remember, this is a blog page of our thoughts, we are not presenting what is written here as prophetic or doctrine or counsel as to what you should do, YHVH is the only source, or should be, for any decision you make, but He does use His servants to get you and us thinking, and praying and seeking Him does He not?