Folly days

Dust off the telescopes and pass the escargot because it’s once again time for Saturnsnailia, more commonly known as Christmas!  I thought about doing a piece on how it’s really Mithras in nature, but that would be too predictable.  Besides, there are many great sites with info on that (see first entry) and I want to be original and parrot them as little as possible.  What I don’t want is to waste time with anyone who says that “Christmas isn’t sketchy” without having done any seriously objective study into the matter.  Not trying to offend, but historical facts are true and if I’m taught otherwise then I’ve sadly been misled.  In other words, if a better way of doing things is shown to us then we should be open.  His truth is a sword, cutting down our hearts to bleed out lies.      

For this, some would to seek to label me as a “nit picking Judaizing legalist”.  If by hair splitting they mean embracing light and not grieving my Yahuah by clinging to heathen practices, then yes.  I could point out how certain brothers in Scripture were called Judaizers by Shaul because they were saying one needed to be circumcised in order to be saved, not for promoting Yah’s holidays.  I could point out how legalism isn’t even mentioned in Scripture because it wasn’t an issue, or that the opposite is illegalism and being against the law isn’t a good thing.  And I could point out how Yahushua was most likely born during the Scriptural/real holiday of Sukkot, but I get the feeling they’d still just want to argue and not listen.  I’m in no way saying this to condemn, but to exhort.

And so, I am lead to touch on Hanukkah.  Recently a friend and fellow believer asked me about it, so it’s on my mind anyway.  Much like Purim, it’s a cultural/traditional holiday not commanded in any portion of Torah.  Albeit one referenced in Scripture and one that our Savior seems to have celebrated.  Personally, I think it’s a neutral option because one doesn’t sin if they choose to observe it or if they don’t.  Old habits do die hard, so if one absolutely must celebrate something in December to fellowship then it’s a decent alternative to encourage.  Satan Claws hates us though, so don’t be surprised at any opposition that arises.  Anyway, whatever your current holiday of choice is I sincerely wish you and yours a safe and happy season.  Life does go better with love, not hate.      

On a personal note, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the few of you who may or may not have been following my little blog this year.  At first I was hesitant about standing alone in the line of fire of the haters, but after a couple of failed co-blogs I saw that the only one properly suited to share your beliefs is you.  Now I’m finding it to be a real pleasure, writing has always been a passion of mine and it’s so nice to be doing this once again.  In the coming 2011 I’m looking forward to putting out more of my thoughtful opinions and commentary, what I feel a blog should be built upon.  I don’t expect everyone to agree with all of my views, but I’ll be happy if at least some meaningful research and dialogue is birthed.  I’ll take some milky cookies, got napkins?

A short story

“Grease Eater”

Imagine if you will that you’ve just woken up in a pile of leaves on a pleasant fall day in the backyard of a somewhat unpleasant house.  You don’t know quite where you are or how you got there, and you have the odd sensation of having just travelled through virtual time and cyber space.  Loud noises erupt inside, so you go over to investigate.  They’re coming from the living room.  A human sized turkey is running around in circles and loudly mumbling incoherently about having been sent to replace Sukkot.  At this point, a young boy enters from a bedroom.  He has his Super Mr. T shirt on and is wearing a beach towel cape.  A metal pail frames his head, with a toy sword hanging aside.

“You seem to have gotten of thy tonics Daniella of The Dark Meat, but fear not; for I hath the cure and I shall administer it unto you with great haste.”  He begins banging his weapon on his helmet and dances his way to the bird in an attempt to wrestle it, which ends the match by sending him flying into a recliner; knocking it back over.  Luckily he’s alright though, if not a little shaken.  He looks up at you cross-eyed and stutters.  “The prescription is too weak, but oh who shall formulate one for my present condition?”

Someone comes in from the potty, a menacing woman with an angry scowl on her face.  She looks at the fowl and begins to shake her fists while stomping on the floor.  “You’re going to quiet down right now Gertie Birdy or else you’ll get a pounding!”  She ties up her nemesis with toilet paper but stops when she notices he who’s apparently her brother on the floor, who by this point is knocked out.  You think about cautiously retreating too.  “Good, but even for me this is far too twisted; so I’m going to get Daddy-o now!”

As she races upstairs to the loft for their father he comes down to try and control his avian foe, which is showing no signs of slowing down to a jog.  You witness him speak up.  “You’re to do as I say, and I say settle down now!  Yunderstand me bird?”  It gives no answer, so he carefully removes his belt and approaches.  But his pants fall down and he lands on a couch, where it spanks him with a frying pan until he breaks free and gracefully hobbles away.  “You shouldn’t have done that to my bum cheeks a tall, now I’m going to call the authorities.  And you should know they’re going to send you away!”

You tend to his awakening son as he goes back up to his phone, where he criticizes the creature behind its back.  Then it bolts through the kitchen and into the basement, just as a knock is heard at the door:

Daddy-o – “Who’s that at my door, Norris Division?”

Grease eater – “I’m the chief grease eater of the west side, you called me?”

Daddy-o – “Yes”

Grease eater – “Thank you.”

Daddy-o – “It’s in the basement, do you think you can club and eat it?”

Grease eater – “Maybe”

Sonny – “May I view this spectacle, dear sir?”

Grease eater – “You’d better stay up here boy, things might get greasy.”

He slowly makes his way down the stairs and finally comes to the scariest place he’s seen in his entire life, a small den resembling a dungeon.  Kooky noises and mouth farts are coming out of it as he puts his hand on the knob to lock it.  Afterwards he rushes outside and takes off his shirt, followed by the construction of a tent with tree branches right next to an old barbeque.  The propane fumes make you faint, and fall back into the pile of leaves to awaken back home in your own dimension.  Happy Sukkot everyone!                                

A poem

Warped Mirror

She’s got the looks of a beauty queen, the kind that belong in classy art scenes and at the heart of every gentleman’s dreams.

The sad thing is that she’s always been the last to know, society can distort image so while weighing a young lady’s very soul.

Blind and abusive little boys don’t help with their lies, telling her she’s really not this gorgeous prize with lightning eyes.

Mean girls know the score but they just shoot cold stares, and whisper with a jealous flair that in some way this just isn’t fair.

Humble and shy in all her ways makes her profoundly unique, but all vain people seek is the body that should be in a boutique.

An understatement to say she’s hard to get, so if you think you can then please step in line and put in your very finest bet.

I’d like to try loving her myself but I don’t have the nerve, to admit that she swerves off the scale of what most men deserve.

And that thing that you just can't place, well it’s the fact that her face is reflected straight out of Yahuah’s amazing grace.

Testimony time

I come from a very religious background, a very large and old pseudo-Christian institution that you can probably guess so I'll refrain from naming it for now.  I was raised to believe in a man-made system of rituals and rites, ones that I would later learn were in fact in opposition of Scripture instead of based on it.  My thoughts on the Messiah were that He's only a part of the salvation process, and that His Torah is useless.  To make a long story short, one night a lifelong friend of mine named Jana took me out to a play at a church she was involved in at the time.  Not really understanding what I was doing, I let her lead me into a prayer of repentance afterwards.  As Jana eventually led me to study the Scriptures it was then that I realized how much of what I had been indoctrinated to believe was false, and after about a year of struggling I finally left my previous institution; got immersed and enrolled in a non-denominational "bridal college".  It was there that I befriended two other young men who were studying Messianic things in their spare time, they tried to share with me some matters but I resisted for well over two years; going through one major spiritual change was hard and I didn't want to do it again.  But now I'm openly Nazarene, which I see as more of a movement than a denomination and I've been re-immersed in the real names of Yahuah and Yahushua (God and Jesus both have negative origins which one can see if they study them out objectively).       

Welcome

Shalom everyone, I'm Messianic Matt and this is my blog.  I hope to add to it regularly, but in the meantime; please check out FREE resources that I've compiled:




Here's a website I think is helpful.  I believe it’s good for those new in the faith as well as those who may not be so new, as there’s enough information on there that everyone should be able to learn something fresh.  And while I may not agree with their stance on women’s head coverings (I personally don’t hold the apostle Paul’s opinions on the same level as Torah, not that I’m one of those Paul haters you may have heard of), the non-denominational people that run this site have been a blessing to me and others; with much spiritual truth.  I’ve received free tracts (informational pamphlets) and a dvd from them in the past, so I can attest myself that they do in fact send out materials at no cost.  They also have a toll-free hotline to call if you have any questions, I haven’t tried it myself but it’s a unique option I’ve not found on similar sites.  There’s even a chat feature, which I thoroughly enjoy.  If you have any questions, you can go on there and hopefully chat with some other believers in Yahushuah the Messiah with good heads on their shoulders.  It’s not too moderated though, so as with anything; use discernment.  But if reading isn’t your thing, there are some well done audio/visual presentations too.  When you can, please feel free to enjoy:

http://www.eliyah.com/


Back to quickly share another website that’s been a blessing to my personal walk with Yahushua the Messiah with free resources and informational studies, run by a wonderful married couple in love with spiritual truth.  It too, has what I consider to be beneficial and non-denominational aids to everyone.  Now I don’t really agree with their taking of “tithes”  or the apparent Nicolatianism of their services (clergy over laity, with only clergy being allowed to speak at gatherings) but it’s a solid site with a genuine sense of caring.  They’ve sent me the dvd’s I ordered absolutely free, and even an added bonus of some tracts that I didn’t order.  They also offered to pray for me on anything, which I felt added a human and heart-felt touch.  It used to be they had a Youtube channel, which unfortunately isn’t up at the moment; not sure what the deal is there.  At any rate, when you have the time please don’t hesitate.  Give it a look and see what feeds your fire:

http://www.familyofmessiah.net/home.html


Another website here that’s been a spiritual blessing to my truth walk with Yahushua the Messiah, also run by an awesome married couple who freely give out resources.  They are non-denominational too, which I like.  Not only have they freely sent me the booklet and one of the three dvd's I ordered, but also included some materials that I didn’t.  They have a good Youtube channel, a poetry page and apparently a sister site in Spanish.  And if you’re into secret society/end time issues, this is a site that I’ve found to also have that info.  So basically there is something there for everyone, so don’t be shy about checking them out as well. 

http://www.followersofyah.com/


I’m going to share yet another website that’s refined my faith in Yahushua our Messiah with it’s free resources pertaining to spiritual truth.  Much like the others, it’s packed with non-denominational study aids which I feel can benefit all people.  Those who run it unfortunately also believe in "tithing" and Nicolatianism and don’t appear to be all that big on the gifts of the Spirit, yet it’s otherwise solid information in my opinion.  They sent me the dvd and bookmarks I ordered from them, and have many downloadable audio teachings plus a newsletter subscription.  So give it a peek, and be richly blessed as you do:

http://yaiy.org/


A very similar site to yaiy is yrm, and they also have downloadable audio teachings and a free newsletter subscription.  They sent me the booklet I ordered but not the dvd so I guess it's hit and miss.  They also publish their own translation of the Scriptures (not free) based on the KJV and called the RSB or Restoration Study Bible.  The footnotes are also hit and miss in my opinion as some of them are rock solid and some of them I outright disagree with.  All in all it's not bad though, a great resource that's adding footnotes when other versions seem to be removing them.  Check it out, you may find that it's for you:

http://yrm.org/