Homestyle, the kind Jesus likes to visit.

Where are you? Does it matter?

Couple from a wall painting found in the ruins of Pompeii. ad 79. Called the “Baker and his Wife” we can imagine that stylus and folding tablet are a sign she is a scribe, a strong woman she is covering her husband’s sword arm as his equal. He is holding a sealed document . The fashion denotes affluence. Would the co workers of Paul, Aquila and Priscilla look similar as Jews living in Rome? What did they teach Apollos “A man Mighty in the Scriptures”? ans The New Covenant, Acts 18. Woman and men in the new covenant are treated as equals.

We are the Temple of God being measured in Revelation.

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and preciousin the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this iscontained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 7This preciousvalue, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” 8 and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OFOFFENSE “; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. In Context Parallel Interlinear Compare Click on any underlined word for resource online.

Think Paul and Silas, having “Church” in the jail cell of Philly, or Jesus and the disciples on the beach for a fish fry, or maybe a meal of “Breaking Bread” at Phoebe’s to read Paul’s letter or a quick move from Rome to escape persecution and a new “Church” is planted by the team of Priscilla and Aquila? Grow where you are or pray to the master for relocation. Do not be surprised if persecution, job loss, health issues make the move for you. You may not like the place or move but God has a plan in every move, ship wreck, every jail cell, every lonely road to Gaza, every widow’s mite, every jar of oil, every drink of cool water in His name, every snake in the firewood, every Pilate, every Judas, every Peter and Paul. The couple of early followers of Jesus are Priscilla and Aquila, who were fellow workers of Apollos, Paul and others noted in the NT. Priscilla could have written the book of Hebrews and edited Paul’s letters. We are sitting around the canvas shop or worse the tannery making tents, or over our meals where we stay. We talk and share ideas, we ask questions, we pray and hear from God. Change happens slow. Look at the attitude of Apollos. Priscilla and Aquila are equals, co workers with the team Paul

Restoration of the Ekklesia of Jesus. We are one, that is the invisible Church/Ekklesia of Jesus Christ. We are around the globe, universal, not defined by borders, nations or google maps. Our architect is the master builder, our cornerstone is the Rock of ages Jesus Christ. No other foundation can anyone lay for the Ekklesia of Jesus Christ! We are the “living stones” a spiritual house of God a Temple of the Holy Presence of God, the abode of His Spirit to worship Him in Spirit and Truth. No human hands! We have the one law the Perfect Law of Liberty and are commanded to Love one another. We are to model the Apostles doctrine in all we do. We love our neighbors, forgive our enemies, wash the feet of our bros and sis. Follow Jesus not religion. The visible “church” is your choice of community, it is as diverse as people are, it can be divided and denominated as the models I see are often broken. Many struggles to support the model they have adopted as pleasing to God while catering to the world’s whims. The visible “Church” has a place it is just not sure of the role it should play. Is the work of the body chasing gameday fans with “itching ears” or pursuing entertainment to the harm of the followers that seek Jesus? Does the Vchurch preach Him brutally, blood sacrificed on a Roman Cross for my sins? Does the Vchurch teach repentance & immersion for sin? Does the leadership follow the New Covenant standards for Elders and deacons? Are everyone’s gifts used by the body? Does it meet the needs of the surrounding people that need help? Does the Vchurch support the local homeless, sick, shut-ins, widows, orphans, feed the hungry? Or is it a restrictive membership club/fort/retreat/venue for a select few? You decide. This on “Church membership contractshttp://thewartburgwatch.com/permpage-church-membership-covenants-legal-contracts-that-are-not-biblical/?fbclid=IwAR2IhLapkU0ierzwYIppcEvs-B8_tE7JEll8MQfcOiU7JPGXbGsDSzaIL7c

Jesus told a woman, an outcast in an outcast society of half breed Jews that it would not matter where we worship God in the New Covenant because ” God is Spirit, We must worship in Spirit and in Truth” When we abide in Christ, “Put on Christ” we are the “Temple of God” When we are “In Christ” there is no physical object, of the world, of the flesh, we must have or need. To place a man-made rule or ritual between us and Jesus is to place barriers to the “One” we must be with Him. This will cause many to stumble. Many will quote traditions and common taters to hold those tenets ingrained dear. The Gospel of Jesus Christ as Messiah is so simple, so loving, so forgiving all the fluff, rules, rituals, mixed covenants, reverends, titles, social/political/religious organizations of man’s folly have made being a “Christian” is ambiguous and must be defined by labels and standards we can not find in the message of Jesus Galatians 5:14, for they are man’s and give special people power, control, and the gold. I may be throwing rocks at glass houses, some will dismiss as a crack pot, God uses those pots as he sees fit. I am not throwing stones but pointing to Jesus. Paul sez “Some say I am for Peter, Wesley, Calvin, Luther or Apollos” “Is Christ divided?” These are all good men, followers of Christ, in their own way, following the light they could see in the age they lived.

One of the harshest critics of the New Testament is Dr. Bart Erhmans, He knows the history surrounding the New Testament. If you think you know the NT listen to this atheist trash some traditions you may hold dear and throw rocks at all the glass houses. He is very biased and while my attitude is to let him rant. If that is the best Satan has my faith is unshaken by his “Facts”. I wondered about Erhmans saying Paul did not write some of the letters. Then God revealed to me a picture found in Pompeii of a contemporary couple of the co workers of Paul. The woman is a scribe, she is holding the first century equivalent of a iPad or tablet. Priscilla taught A man “Mighty in the Scriptures the Better Way” Acts 18. The idea that Priscilla could have been like the woman in the picture and as the co worker of Paul helped/influence/corrected grammar of the letters. She could have written Hebrews as some support. Here is the record for Priska, in the NT. https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/priska.html

What separated the disciples from the other religions of the day? Acts of the Apostles (As led by the Holy Spirit) Teaching the Apostles teaching from house to house. person to person. We have a copy of the claimed to be “Apostles Teaching” or Didache of course this is not in the respected canon, but it does show what some thought in the first 125 yrs of the Ekklesia.

Does being born again refer to regeneration as in Titus 3? Many reformed teachers have told me the water refers to human birth but human birth and ancestral relations are excluded earlier in John 1:13. Peter said that Cornelius’ conversion was the same as Acts 2? Who are we clothed with? 1 Cor 12, Romans 6 parallel with 1 Corinthians 15 Is this the Gospel in action? If we confess Jesus as Lord will we obey his commands? not leftover dead laws and obsolete covenants. Apollos “was mighty in the scriptures” What was he missing in Acts 19? Aquila and Priscilla treated him as a brother and taught him the Way more fully. What does Ephesians 4:3-6 mean “One” ? I thought they are many faiths? Every pagan knows there are many gods we know there is One. That is where we start. We teach disobedient and ignorant seekers where God is Spirit and the Word of God to them.

The “Temple” use in NT by verse https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/hieros.html

“I don’t agree with you.” That is what he said. My acquaintance a denominational “pastor.” Who favored Calvin on some days and then he would ask me what I thought. Rom 14:4 Who am I to judge another servant of our master. I will point to the master’s rules and ask that we reason together for an understanding. I am sure the Holy Spirit does not confuse us. I may confuse you or Luther may confuse me as much as Wesley does, but that does not mean I like at all Calvin or really like Paul more. Is Christ divided? I favor Peter over Paul. I can understand Hebrews so I think maybe Priscilla wrote it. ( the lady in the picture was living at the time Paul lived some say.) You do know what is in her hand. These were the tech savvy people of the day. The many voices, the big egos, the greed for power and control have given us a history of war and rumors of wars and many with the cry of a heretic to burn. If we can not unite on the precious blood of the lamb of God by submitting all our heart, soul, mind, with life’s blood ready to be poured out like a drink offering then what can we rally around? If Satan can keep you from the blood he does not care how many visible churches you bless. You must be clothed with Christ, the blood of the lamb. Your Temple must be clean for the Holy Spirit to abide. We will be known by our fruit and deeds/lives 1 Peter 2:12 How that happens is clear for me. You may view a different procedure or practice. That may be based on _________? A Practice of the Apostles Teaching in the new covenant, Direct command of Jesus, an old covenant practice or ritual, traditions, man-made doctrine introduced after the age of Apostles. translations made by common taters, “Church” rules, some guru, a world religion, a cult that denies the God of Isaiah 9 ” the very image of God” is the Jesus Christ of the new testament record and as Apollos is “Mighty in the Scriptures” before his update by Aquila and Priscilla to the Gospel 1 Corinthians 15

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That is what separated the children of God from pagans. Their gods needed little temples to live in or idol images for people to focus on. People could go by when called or when they wanted to. Worship was focused on ritual and rules officiated by a “priest”. Our God is in no building made with hands. We are the temple of the Holy God. The visible church is so divided they cannot agree on stuff God clearly sez. My Bro or Sis identifies with Jesus, loves God and obeys the light they have in all humility and honest searching for the truth, we will share and fellowship, “Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you” Gal 5:14. The proud, stubborn that hold to traditions, doctrines of men, old covenants,”Philistine wagons”, or worse are disobedient children and God will deal with them on His terms with them. Does being born again refer to regeneration as in Titus 3? Many reformed teachers have told me the water refers to human birth but human birth and ancestral relations are excluded earlier in John. Peter said that Cornelius ‘ conversion was the same as. Acts 2? Who are we clothed with? 1 Cor 12, Romans 6 parallel with 1 Corinthians 15 Is this the Gospel in action? If we confess Jesus as Lord will we obey his commands? not leftover dead laws and obsolete covenants. Apollos “was mighty in the scriptures” what was he missing in Acts 19? Aquila and Priscilla treated him as a brother and taught him the Way more fully. What does Ephesians 4:3-6 mean “One” ? I thought they are many faiths? Every pagan knows there are many gods we know there is One. That is where we start. We teach disobedient and ignorant seekers where God is Spirit and the Word of God to them.

Some of the reference material used to develop the writing. Use of a resource does not mean I agree with or support the resource. You can find a PhD, Reverend, Guru, Pope or pastor that will tell you it is OK to marry your ______(fill in blank) and handle poisonous snakes. You can find anything and everything on the web.

Much love for my Bro Phil and his comments

https://www.phildrysdale.com/2019/06/stop-demonizing-those-who-leave-the-church/#comment-1152688

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Jerusalem

New Church Tahoe https://newchurchtahoe.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorship_of_the_Epistle_to_the_Hebrews

Who is the seed of Abraham? https://www.gotquestions.org/seed-of-Abraham.html

http://www.wearechurch.com/ We are Church/Ekklesia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Jerusalem

https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/oca/acts-15.html

https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/naos.html

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/ephesians/2-21.html

https://www.phildrysdale.com/2014/02/tithing-the-great-commission/

Tithe to give or give to tithe? My Bro Phil from England offers this concise essay on the 23% of the Tenth. https://www.phildrysdale.com/2014/02/tithing-the-great-commission/

https://www.phildrysdale.com/2014/02/tithing-the-great-commission/

Sale on Gopher Wood…….What is the Church to do?

Imagine how the Noah and the Ark story would have worked in today’s “Church” Gen 6:22

Noah, “Shem, where is the invoice for those boards from Lowes?”

Shem, “Dad the “blue light” sale was on (special on fog machines) and Ham said you would not mind if we saved a bundle over that top dollar Acacia Wood and they were all out of Gopher Wood, Yeah Japeth asked around the construction people that are experts in building stuff said it does not matter what wood you use besides all that data is old and out of date, “Man! that gopher wood won’t float long anyway, nobody builds rafts out of it.” “Look dad! The stuff is known to sink after a few months so that wood won’t save us!”

Would the boat the boys would build in my imaginary story Float! Or save anyone? Does anyone in the old covenants win by second guessing God?

What did Noah do? Gen 6:22 He did exactly what God said! Hebrews 11 all of faith obeyed the Word of God.

You know the rest of the story, the real story is that Noah obeyed as did Moses when handed the plans for a tent of meeting, the dwelling place of God “Holy of Holies”. God did not need it. Men needed a place to say to the nations “Here is our God” like our Mighty God requires a Holy place to meet us, a set apart place. Men require physical objects in worship. God requires perfection in obedience. We need Grace, not ritual and trappings of pompous religion. Here is a wonderful study on Grace that is simple, no theology or reformed divided religions. Click here. http://jackcottrell.com/?p=2678

The very best of the people in the history of the Jews were as filthy rags, of the worst sort! From David to Judas all were failures in keeping the covenants. David was a man after God’s heart who promised murder from his death bed. God loved David as He does us. In spite of our arrogant; “Do it my way” attitude. In the presence of God, do we need all sorts of props and helps to look good? We think all this helps, the show, the grand buildings, the crowds of fans, the excitement, the feeling, the correct words in the rituals make the magic work while the Holy Spirit hides in shame over His creatures. We do the rituals with pomp and circumstance to rival the courts of kings and rock concerts while our King washes our feet for the example that we ignore as we plan the program. “Our Righteousness” is still filthy rags We say unity and do divisive things. We claim to do all Jesus commands, except the ones we don’t like or some theologian said we got wrong. We follow traditions of men even when we know the Word is clear, One Eph 4: We fail at being “Good” and can never “Do” enough! Grace is never how good we are or try to be, but how marvelously forgiven forever we are. Grace covers us for no one except Jesus could keep all the laws. Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

We walk in good works, it is a gift! Don’t be a goat like those followers in Matt 25.

Grace beautiful wonderful Grace. Check out our fav professor here on Grace, made simple. http://jackcottrell.com/uncategorized/saved-by-grace-1-grace-isnt-fair-but-thats-good/

Our response to Jesus is? 1. Show love, 2. Believe 3. Obey Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.Romans 6

We obey with the “Heart” as well as the “Mind” Peter understood this fact 1 Peter 3:20-21

The early followers of Jesus followed this document for many years https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didache

What does this document add to the Gospel message? Nothing! just tells what some taught back then. This is not scripture but a list of practices of the early first and 2nd century Ekklesia, What has been added to the practices since? Good bad? Here is a good study of early church history.

Know the Truth https://www.christian-history.org/early-christianity.html Thanks Paul!

Do you see how some teaching reflects what you know? What jumps out in the document? ” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” Paul to Romans delivered by Phoebe to the Ekklesia

silasrjesus

The Holy Spirit is not a woman or a man, Expect Him to show up!

Refined by Fire……When do we do the Acts stuff?

We are studying the movements that are coming up in social media as restoring the ekklesia, outside of the mainstream traditional divided denominations and the social political state sponsored churches. This video is worth your look to see what is going on around the globe today.

https://www.filepicker.io/api/file/gobrRWiRQFmwubFEEexZ

Here is a course for free on this, We must restore the first works. Rev 2, we can’t use our checkbook, our time or attendance to obey the perfect law of liberty. We can not pay staff or hired hands to take our place at the altar (on our knees anywhere, anytime) God requires repentance of the pig poop smelling prodigal as well as the perfumed reverend. In 45 years of living in God’s hand we have sought to follow Jesus. No cult or creed but Christ. The Restoration Movement model of the 1800s has intrigued me since I was first aware of the old time gospel meetings of my adopted childhood. As a child of musicians that provided music for many celebrations and that included weddings, funerals and regular meetings plus road shows for “Revival” During those 1950-1960s I heard every bible verse and story preached many times. King James reading for me was easy, I read most of Shakespeare works before I was 10. I still love to read the book out loud. But I know where it has been neglected and abused. The restoration plea was and has been unity with the essentials and non essentials still working again the prayer. Wot Not! Who is preaching any thing divisive of the Gospel? Look at this teaching https://basicchurch.teachable.com/

We poor humans we first must look at our heart is it right with God? Then we must change it to suit Him, not us or them.

Look at the early church. What did they do? When did they start that? https://www.christian-history.org/fall-of-the-church.html

Another movement to restore https://godsleader.com/tenets-of-ekklesia-life/

Four facts fatal to original sin

http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVarticles/FourFactsFatalToOriginalSin.htm

What about the Sabbath? Does God have a calendar where he looks for you in a set place and time to meet? That is what the Ark of the Covenant was for. Click underline for article

What about babies? Children under age of accountability. or idiots?

What about obedience to all of Jesus commands? What were they? Do you follow all of them? Are you Born of the Water and the Spirit? Does Ephesians 4 talk about two or many baptisms?

Buy gold refined by fire https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-7-4-tons-of-venezuelas-gold-landed-in-africaand-vanished-11560867792https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-7-4-tons-of-venezuelas-gold-landed-in-africaand-vanished-11560867792

The things men fight and die for are paving materiel for the streets of Heaven. Buy gold is a metaphor for placing your treasure in the right position in your life. The Church of Laodicea, Rev 3, was told to buy Gold from Jesus. Col 2:,

https://youtu.be/IIjj5KItJsY

My focus in this past few years of study has been the first century Church or Ekklesia in the Greek as it was copied in that first season. The First Century Ekklesia was opened for business on the day of Penecost. Peter who had been handed the Keys to the Kingdom, opened the narrow door. The Ekklesia . It was later changed by the Kings and the Roman Churches to mean a location so they could use the temples of the pagans to easily convert them. Nobody has any record of any temple that Jesus founded as a physical location or building. Jesus has no need for an earthly temple. John 4, We believe we are the Temple of God. Just because the latest religious crack pot has committed the most awful acts on another person does not mean that every follower is a nut case or a pervert. The Holy Spirit will not inhabit an unclean house/temple/body. Paul sez your body is the Temple of the Most High God. Your Altar is on your knees where you are. His arm is never too short to save. The Holy Spirit is not a feeling or a cause of injury, Having the Holy Spirit without control is not good practice. The presence of the Holy Spirit is the same as the presence of God in the old covenant. Jesus is our mediator and comforter, counselor, friend. This is a new agreement. We can now go “Boldly into the Throne of Grace” as a well loved heir/adopted, bought with a price, prodigal son and daughter and be one with the Father

https://www.filepicker.io/api/file/gobrRWiRQFmwubFEEexZ

If you follow Jesus with all your heart, mind and soul you have buried the flesh, Romans 6:17 and now humbly submit to Him all things of the flesh and follow the Spirit. Your life, your marriage, your vocation. You serve God with your Gifts He has given you both physical and spiritual so that you can be a stone in His building. Even blind Bartimaeus‘ disability and Balaams’ ass have a part in God’s plan. Jesus sez “For God’s Glory ” that this man is born blind, not original sin or any sin. There is no inbred sin of man, man is sinful when man chooses to sin sez James and John. All mankind owes a death, our debt is paid but our physical is not going to inherit Heaven in God’s presence. St Augustine formed this doctrine of the Roman Church around 400 AD . Original Sin was adopted by most reformation protestants like Luther, who fought over this and other issues with another leader Zwingli, both of these fought with the Anabaptist division over infants because the state wanted to control the peasants. After the state church took over Germans killed other followers that disagreed with Luther’s teachings. . The state owned churches used the baptism certificate for purposes of citizenship, military subscription, and taxation. In some countries like the Roman Empire you had to have the mark from the temple that you worshiped the current “god” or Cesar, Czar, King or Dictator, with out that “Mark” of the Church in medieval times onward, you could not buy, sell, marry or much of anything. History revels that many “Marks of the Beast” have occurred. It was hard being a follower in the first century of the Church.

This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/isaiah/66.html What was detestable to God? It is an individual’s battle we must fight with His power. We are too weak without prayer and the Holy Spirit. Many are thinking they are somehow protected and they fall. All Lust of the Flesh is sin. James sez it is our temptation (not a sin unless acted upon) that draws us away and we commit the sin. Does not matter if the cause is the flesh of a male or female. “Gouge out your eye!” is the extreme we are to go to. ( many would be blind as teenagers, even the best kids will need glasses) Paul sez if we can’t deal with the lust to remain celibate if we are able by doing so be saved. Forcing people to be celibate to be a priest is stupid. The word was “Celebrate” when God talked about sex in SoS. The letter to the Corinthian Ekklesia is clear on what God calls the marriage of two humans and I have witnessed “churches” for 45 yrs that could not handle this correctly with maybe two congregations that did the right thing with the elders shepherding the flock. I have known many good people who divorce, marry, sleep around, have indiscriminate sexual activity for many reasons. Ruth and Boaz is a good example of the way of a man with a maid. Remarriage and no marriage is all the same with God. Do we love the person? Is God glorified in this union? Will we be faithful forever? We have a debt to God on two levels, the flesh, and the Soul. We must honor him in both. The Gnostics believed sin in the flesh was evil but the Soul was separate and not affected. or the St Augustine followers believe we can sin and pay our way out of jail/hell with a coin or good deeds, many aspire to this checkbook mentality. The scripture can be twisted to support both points of Augustine theology which led many reformers down the wrong path. Many we have counseled in the past believe they are sinning and because of baptist/calvin/presbe beliefs that their sins say they are damned, or as we had a Baptist “Pastor” tell us his drinking and illicit sex outside his marriage was OK he was experiencing it for us the congregation. His Calvin was way too deep in the deep end of the theological swamp. Enjoy!https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/isaiah/66.html What was detestable to God? Isaiah 66 What is “detestable” to God the Greeks would have a big problem with. I suppose pig and pork come to mind. The Greeks ate mice boiled in wine, fried in olive oil. Paul explained this in Corinthian letters.” meat in the market” could be anything. It is offensive to those we love we should not do it just because we can if it offends my bro or sis. Read all of Isaiah 66 before you comment on this. Of course, Jesus made all foods clean by explaining how human digestion works. Peter was told “Kill and eat” Religion sez “Don’t eat, touch” or hang with the crowd that does. When we get done with Lust of the Flesh we can discuss, lies, gluttony, arrogance, anger, slander, gossip and the emotions and feelings that motivate humans. When I consider my sins less despicable in God’s eyes than yours, I fail to love you as God does be you the worst sinner on the planet. Our old man of sin nailed Him to the cross. Time to bury the old man and rise to walk in new life. Romans 6

We gentiles do not have to keep any law of the old covenants. We don’t have to but we can if we want to. We honor Christ as messiah and savior of the world. The new covenant is the “Law of Liberty” the one Law we must keep over all the rules rituals and regulations of religion. If we love our bride we don’t go back to old girlfriends and break our new covenant. Galatians 5:14. Jesus does not even want our altars and temples. He gives us new ones. Bury the old man! Arise! A new creation, a Temple for the Holy Spirit (our body) and an Altar (on our knees where we are) with direct access to the throne of Almighty God.

. I, the LORD, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word. 3 But those who choose their own ways— delighting in their detestable sins— will not have their offerings accepted. When such people sacrifice a bull, it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice. When they sacrifice a lamb, it’s as though they had sacrificed a dog! When they bring an offering of grain, they might as well offer the blood of a pig. When they burn frankincense, it’s as if they had blessed an idol. 4 I will send them great trouble— all the things they feared. For when I called, they did not answer. When I spoke, they did not listen. They deliberately sinned before my very eyes and chose to do what they know I despise.” 5 Hear this message from the LORD, all you who tremble at his words: “Your own people hate you and throw you out for being loyal to my name. ‘Let the LORD be honored!’ they scoff. ‘Be joyful in him!’ But they will be put to shame. 6 What is all the commotion in the city? What is that terrible noise from the Temple? It is the voice of the LORD taking vengeance against his enemies. 7“Before the birth pains even begin, Jerusalem gives birth to a son. 8 Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? But by the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin, her children will be born. 9 Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it?” asks the LORD . “No! I would never keep this nation from being born,” says your God. 10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem! Be glad with her, all you who love her and all you who mourn for her. 11 Drink deeply of her glory even as an infant drinks at its mother’s comforting breasts.” 12 This is what the LORD says: “I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity. The wealth of the nations will flow to her. Her children will be nursed at her breasts, carried in her arms, and held on her lap. 13 I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.” 14 When you see these things, your heart will rejoice. You will flourish like the grass! Everyone will see the LORD ’s hand of blessing on his servants— and his anger against his enemies. 15 See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his swift chariots roar like a whirlwind. He will bring punishment with the fury of his anger and the flaming fire of his hot rebuke. 16 The LORD will punish the world by fire and by his sword. He will judge the earth, and many will be killed by him. 17 “Those who ‘consecrate’ and ‘purify’ themselves in a sacred garden with its idol in the center—feasting on pork and rats and other detestable meats—will come to a terrible end,” says the LORD . 18 “I can see what they are doing, and I know what they are thinking. So I will gather all nations and peoples together, and they will see my glory. 19 I will perform a sign among them. And I will send those who survive to be messengers to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (who are famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to all the lands beyond the sea that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. There they will declare my glory to the nations. 20 They will bring the remnant of your people back from every nation. They will bring them to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD . They will ride on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the LORD . 21 “And I will appoint some of them to be my priests and Levites. I, the LORD, have spoken! 22 “As surely as my new heavens and earth will remain, so will you always be my people, with a name that will never disappear,” says the LORD . 23“All humanity will come to worship me from week to week and from month to month. 24 And as they go out, they will see the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me. For the worms that devour them will never die, and the fire that burns them will never go out. All who pass by will view them with utter horror.”

Unless you have an excuse that Jesus will waive some of his commands. You know like the thief on the cross skipped a few of the commands and many disobedient children are saying they are following Jesus. Many fail to understand the “Obey” part of follow Jesus. Believers everywhere “Believe” but a follower is sealed, the old man of sin is buried, the sins are forever washed away as Paul did at Anninia’s request. Have you believed enough to obey or do you follow the theologians reasoning?

The Theo (Lover’s of God) logons love to be divisive with theretofore inference that this could have happened or not? Or this could be what Paul’s second cousin’s name was if he was not a ? Second guessing every word of the Bible. I will only consider writings that are historically correct and no later than 200 ad and even then you can smell the sulfur of the writer in some spurious texts. That will remove tons of religious bravo sierra from the table spread before us. Right off we won’t have to deal with most of the cults of the last few century s We won’t have to deal with the rapture or deification of martyrs, Mary, or Saints, clergy, buildings or corporation style social political organizations. Business or entertainment models for focused corporate worship with fans and followers all together on game day, unless you count the Corintiina

http://ontheofficewautoteacher.blogspot.com/2014/01/sad-today-and-also-glad-to-on-our-way.html

Some people may not know I was a teacher for a while. Jesus was too! The world agrees that Jesus is a great teacher, some would say the greatest or other might point out the same tenets were in other religions that predate Jesus. Way back in the day I learned several things about teaching. From the ignorance of the early 1960s with no provision for special needs students my run towards trouble as a teen was thwarted by a wonderful counselor, a lady my wife and I visited often the thank her for saving my dumb ass from a life of no good with out an education to feed my self. I learned from the good teachers I had how much you mean to the average and below students you deal with each day. From the others I learned what not to do. The marines taught me how to teach to the lowest man on my team. Our life depended on my ability as Sgt/cpl to teach the men on my team the skills we need to survive in a hostile environment. You don’t tell them to do the problem, read the book, or work it out. You pour your blood out like a drink offering to God for these few your brothers. That is the attitude of the teacher. When I taught I held the highest ideal as standard and required my students to meet the standard, Of course no student could meet more than a few at best to begin with in our instruction. If all I see of Jesus is a great teacher or even just a perfect soul to hold up a standard I can’t meet is frustrating. Many good people have burned out over this view of Jesus. No, I must see Jesus as my redeemer that fixes my mistakes, pays my slave price, pays my bail and fines,forgives my sins when I repent of those sins.

Being forgiven is a gift, not a title of rank. We are servants of Jesus, yet a royal priesthood of the “least of these” of equal rank. That is what “Wash Feet” means. Keep your shoes on it is a metaphor.

Peter writes that we are a “Royal priesthood” a “Chosen Nation” selected for service in the Kingdom. Paul calls individuals ambassadors for Christ and hands over the “Ministry of reconciliation” to you and me. Click on the underline to check the reference or source of quote.

When Jesus washed the disciples feet as they were arguing who should sit where based on rank and Satan had filled Judas with bitterness over the waste of Spikenard by the woman, we see in action what Jesus will, does and has done many times with His bitter tears. Jesus will pick up our muddy, filthy feet and wash the world’s dirt from our life. (Hebrews sez Jesus’ blood sacrifice paid it all) Sometimes He uses the rod of discipline on me, sometimes it is His staff pulling me back from the danger I just do not see because of the bright lights and glitter of the golden idols the world has for me.

I found these 10 quotes on a clickbait site. I quote Dietrich Bonhoeffer and add a thought of my own numbered and bold before Dietrich’s. The more I study the writings of God I find gentle souls that looked outside the box. Especially today when many realize that the often lukewarm worship of entertainment and the sage on a stage is not fellowship with Jesus we see in the Gospels or the Ekklesia in Acts or the letters. I hear many voices saying similar things. Numbers say the mainstream model is broken in many places and for far too many sheep that are wandering. I pray for unity. Unity will take the Holy Spirit to melt prideful hearts and gently break soft ones. It is time to restore the unity of community!

Mr. Bonhoeffer was a martyr during the NAZI occupation of Europe.

1. Mutual respect for another means I love you too much to sin against you or God in your presence or to allow you to continue in sin against others or God. Not about judging, but about saving.

“Nothing can be more cruel than the leniency which abandons others to their sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe reprimand which calls another Christian in one’s community back from the path of sin.”

2. Jesus was/is a friend of sinners, lived with the poor and least of these. Who is going to serve the “least of these”, dones, nones, ?

“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. There is his commission, his work. ‘The kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ; he wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people.”

3. Being forgiven is a gift, not a title of rank. We are servants of Jesus, yet a royal priesthood of the least of these of equal rank. That is what “Wash feet” means.

“If my sinfulness appears to me to be in any way smaller or less detestable in comparison with the sins of others, I am still not recognizing my sinfulness at all. … How can I possibly serve another person in unfeigned humility if I seriously regard his sinfulness as worse than my own?”

4. We can build a church of sticks and bricks, or as Jesus did with living stones on the foundation of the Rock of Ages.

“The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.”

5. Prayer in the name of Jesus separates the Ekklesia from the “religions of the world”. Our redeemer lives!

“A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner.”

6. Be prepared to be used, if one time like Ananias with Saul or thousands like Phillip.

“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions.”

7. “Tame the tongue” Train the ear! This one is mine. James sez “rudder” as in control your boat. Paul sez we can control the tongue

“There is a kind of listening with half an ear that presumes already to know what the other person has to say. It is an impatient, inattentive listening, that despises the brother and is only waiting for a chance to speak and thus get rid of the other person. Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.”

8. Who are you compassionate about? Wash the feet of your brothers and sisters. Be kind to neighbors. There is a difference.

“The Christian, however, must bear the burden of a brother. He must suffer and endure the brother. It is only when he is a burden that another person is really a brother and not merely an object to be manipulated. The burden of men was so heavy for God Himself that He had to endure the Cross. God verily bore the burden of men in the body of Jesus Christ.”

9. God is in the details, watching.

“Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?”

10. Thankful, and able to be thankful of others.

“If we do not give thanks daily for the Christian fellowship in which we have been placed, even where there is no great experience, no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith, and difficulty; if on the contrary, we only keep complaining to God that everything is so paltry and petty, so far from what we expected, then we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow according to the measure and riches which are there for us all in Jesus Christ.”

Got to work on these! pray for your neighbors!

The New Birth 1866 https://christianstandard.com/2019/03/the-new-birth/?fbclid=IwAR1gkOsGQ8dHc7fo1dX_OmQR1e0eWQ9m6DxqCRsXR4KYJxuLFAUCDwT8qWo

The New Birth

d the debate with Rice on infant baptism. “We admire the wisdom of our Heavenly Father in causing the Greek language to cease to be a
living tongue after the canon was closed and translated into one or two languages. By that means the sense of its words changes no more; and we have a fixed language of immutable meaning and of all authority, preserving and perpetuating the will of God to
all ages and for all nations.” A.Campbell.

Pieces of the Cross and a few stones………….more

If you read this be prepared to check the facts. Understand this university educator is teaching what Atheists believe about Jesus at the most critical level. “He has knowledge with out wisdom or Love” Read for free on Audible first read, Don’t let your grand children , children be blindsided by these atheist professors. “The Truth will set your Free” https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=From+Jesus+to+Constantine%3A+A+History+of+Early+Christianity&ref=

When Paul prayed for “God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus” In Chapter 3 of his letter to the “Faithful followers” He asks God for the congregation, “Power in the Spirit” that the “Love of God ” can be understood. Too bad he did not pray that we could understand theology then we would not have a problem understanding how silly the stuff we argue over. Some do not argue they simply walk away confused, hurt, damaged by the very people that should be sharing healing and comfort. People try and forget they are a Spirit created by God for His pleasure. Our Ego screams “Me” “Mine” “All mine” God tolerates no opposition to His Love, He remains a Jealous God. It is easy for them to slip back into the world. The “Root of Bitterness” grows fast in poor, rocky soil of discontent, Sheep will wander into those places when the shepherds are more focused on the rules, rituals, and tithe than the one the “tithe” was to benefit. These are the “Hired Hands” Jesus spoke of that are in charge for power and the control of others. Some people are so done with the “church” of today they are never going back to a structured religion unless someone drags their coffin into one. The hype, the divisions of men and many other reasons, the “Dones” are done. Most “Dones” and “Nones” will never see the inside of another grand church building. This one prayer of Ephesians 3:14-21 has all the necessary elements of Ekklesia. This prayer of Paul for the Christians of the Church has all of God’s Power the Church needs. Read it here, click on the underlined text. “I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” Ekklesia /Church,Greek root word. Not a location in use of text.

New Church Tahoe is a model for the Ekklesia of the 21 millennium.

Do you believe this humble prayer? Does everyone around you know these Truths that Paul asked for to equip the “Royal Priesthood” of the “Living Stones” Some will only be happy with traditions and build on sand with straw. Be radical build on the Rock with living stones? BTW The “Church” in some translations is the congregation, the people, the Ekklesia, never a location or organization state/political type church in the first century. What are you to do? Peter sez, https://www.biblestudytools.com/1-peter/2-12.html

If one accepts and acts upon the prayer for wisdom and understanding from the power of God in the Holy Spirit, What should be the response? Why does this work? Why does this plan not work? What is in the way? Am I building on sand with straw? My humility level may not qualify me to understand God’s Love? Am I “Child like ” not naive like a child but innocent of evil intent or any guile on my part? Am I wise as a serpent and meek as a dove? Here is a starting point for dialogue and prayer.

https://newchurchtahoe.com/who-we-are/

Jesus loved his Mom, add to Mother’s Day message of praise of Wives, mothers and women.

The political state “Church” kept women in the lower laity class at best, indentured servant at worse. Of course the Clergy had those tall hats to lord over the little people.

Jesus was above the Jewish norm of the day in the treatment of women. Looking at the big picture, In the Gospels I see that Jesus was very respectful of women, treating them as equals as much as the social setting allowed. Using them as reliable witnesses, perfect choices as servants for God’s plans, and faithful disciples, as we see in Paul’s letters.

Where would Aquila be without Priscilla? Where would I be without my wife?

A Feminist Hebrew professor of Theology looks at the Old Testament. We don’t agree with her personal views but the fact she presents asks a lot of questions we did not know to askLike Dr. Bart Ehrmans, who we don’t agree with on several levels, the facts he presents cause us to ask a lot of questions that many will never ask, following what ever messiah of the week, has promised them what ever they want. Does not matter if it is David Koresh or the latest rich pop star, Oprah Guru, tele evangelist claiming to be an apostle with the message. You must test the spirits for many are in the world to deceive and separate you personally from the blood of the Lamb. https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/revelation/1.html

In an Elders meeting of a small Restoration Movement congregation we were serving back in the 80s, an elder asked; for some of our members if our teenagers, young women and men, could serve the communion, and help with some of the worship meetings. Of course, several elders protested that that was not right. “We never done that!” and so forth! Of Course, Elders should question and investigate every thing the congregation does as a Body of Christ. However, Carried to extreme, this can result in nit picking and bickering over stuff that the deacons should be doing. See Acts 7 for what the disciples had to do. This is why you involve the Holy Spirit in selection of elders and deacons. Jesus should be the only High Priest at your meetings anyway. We do not see the rise of “Clergy” until the 2-3rd century. The idea of ranks, titles, or “hired hand’ staff is an after thought some good some bad. Without the Holy Spirit leading all decisions of the elders and service of deacons about the “Club” they control may make it a great, well run, benevolent organization but it is not the Ekklesia (Congregation, Assembly, not a location or building). The Church is made up of the followers of Jesus. Unless He, the Holy Spirit is allowed to direct and is obeyed the group will never reach its potential no matter how well oiled the action or educational training. If your group does not have Elders- Shepherds, you need to ask God if He changed the model and practice of the early gatherings? https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/jude/1.html

He did not tell His brothers about latter day changes? Who has the authority to add man’s eloquence and man’s ideas, wisdom to the Ekklesia? Jude 1:3, Galatians 3:1, 1 Cor 3:4, Eph 4:1-6

Read

https://www.bible.ca/ntx-elders-pastors-bishops.htm Scriptures for Elder-ship in the local congregation.

The Ekklesia may be found as individuals serving by the Light they have in those organizations but they are not representing His Body, Ephesians 4: . Followers are the Church of God that has no man made temple or building for a home, but is found in many homes/hearts of many people that love one another because of Jesus. I asked the people gathered at our meeting this question for the elders. “What kind of former sinners do you want to serve the Body? The teenagers are just as we are, forgiven sinners.” “We (that board of elders and deacons) decided then that a follower (Gal 3:26-28) of Jesus could be a servant at any position the Holy Spirit qualified them for as long as they were obedient to the elder’s( always plural number of men in NT) decisions for the congregation.( we don’t see the rise of the Bishop and division of Clergy until 3rd Century corruption, Cardinals and other offices are much later) In other words all the teachers, every one of the preachers regardless of gender are under the supervision of the shepherds of the flock, If not, they are not in a flock that is following God’s commands to appoint Elders in every congregation as was the practice by the measures we see there, not by man’s measurements. When you have one man as the pastor of a congregation, if he is in control, He must be driving the flock or if the sheep are in control, the flock is driving him. He will be surrounded by people that support him for what they get. If the needs are not met, people will go where they are met. Do the people need entertainment, warm milk and have itching ears? Do they need the living Word and seek Jesus? If the preacher is a humble man and wants to please God he will lead his flock to springs of pure water of life and protect them from the doctrines of men and pagan religions.

If Paul can entrust the letter to the Roman Ekklesia to a woman serving as a deaconess of the Ekklesia, I can trust my Sister in Christ to serve our local congregation in the gifts she is given. Under the oversight of the congregation’s Elders.

Can she serve as an Elder? Not according to what I read. Can she teach or preach? Yes, if the elders approve as with any teacher or preacher. IMHO this is what I teach quoting only New Testament. I could cite early first century writers on this. We only see women dishonored in the later centuries after the male dominated societies took control of the state churches. All of the first century in the church despite persecution, was looking up for the status of women over where the Jews and pagans had placed them, state/political based religion tended to suppress that effort because of the desire to control. Example would be requiring extreme dress rules, attendance, contraception rules or forbidding to marry. Just because the Corinthian Church had problems with the Roman/Greek culture does not mean we have a permit to act like the world in anything we do. Nor should we take up the many specific problems of the Church of Corinth as if we are them in any way except in Jesus Christ. Read Corinthians with prayer that you can see it as a Gentile former pagan would hear it read during the next Lord’s day meeting where you might consider your “church”. Pray and read the whole two letters. What would the downtown Corinthian congregation think about our lifestyle, our worship? Our acceptance of the morality of our culture? Answer these questions??????

What is your “Church” doing to use the special gifts God has blessed you with? The Holy Spirit gives these to all who ask in faith. You do have the gift of the Holy Spirit don’t you? Acts 2, Acts 5: The promise of the Father, poured out for you! You did obey Peter or did you listen to some voice shouting? Luther says, Calvin says, Wesley says, Zwingli Says, All fought each other bitterly, putting the Heretics to death, Lollards, Hutterites, Anabaptist, etc, The Ortho held power by the sword, the radicals did not have the political might or control enough gold to be right. Rev 17

Corinth had been a Greek city recolonized by the Romans in 146bc after a war where Rome destroyed the population and most of the country. The Romans repopulated the city with retired veterans.

Does your group/church/congregation/AKA “Church” serve the community by meeting the daily needs of the local neighbors?

Does your Church serve the needs of the widows and orphans? I will include orphans that are in the womb and out. I will include any person that is orphaned by life, alone and lost nearby, your neighbor, my neighbor. Expecting one “Shepherd” to see after the whole flock is ridiculous, God provides a structure of elders and deacons, teachers, evangelists, and care givers. What is your gift and how does your group use you and your gifts in His service?

Jesus used the sheep and the goats in His teaching. I have owned both and have great respect for what Jesus taught. Sheep are on the good side of God, goats, not so much. Seem they are always scapegoats and turned out into the wilderness because of sin. I don’t want to be a goat. Own sheep for a few years. If any survive your treatment you might consider being a servant in the court of the King. You will understand the metaphor clearly. What are the sheep and goats divided over?

Does your group grow and disciple? Pray to the Lord of the Harvest.

Now is the time to come out of divided denominated daughters of the whore of Babylon and see Jesus in the eye of your neighbor. Form community with your friends, neighbors and serve God by obeying one law Gal 5:14 all the rest is religion. Follow Jesus, love your neighbor. meet with your neighbors and pray for each other. Read God’s Word, avoid the many voices of the world. Drink the Living Water from the Spring, the Rock of Ages, don’t drink out of the Nile or the Jordan. Follow God’s Word as did Na-man the Syrian in simple non theological Gospel obedience. Reject rules and rituals of bondage.

The weatherperson on the news sez Momma Nature controls weather, Psalm 104 sez God created all and is in all. Click to read, one meant to be sung https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/104.html

If Satan could keep you from the Word you would have an excuse. In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1,

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/john/1-1.html

It is all fun and games until someone brings up Theology

My neighbor is the closest person to me. Is that including wifi? I am studying how social media affects this and praying for guidance that God’s promise of His Word will not be carried, prayed, cursed in vain. I hear so many voices, so many gurus and PhDs, right and left reverends abound. “Savage wolves” attack the very flock Jesus has blessed them with. The latest fashion in Babylon will be worse than millstone necklaces if God’s wrath is not paid. Is the voice we should hear drowned out? Example, a pastor preaches the apostles drove Hondas, because it is in the Bible. Right? Well it does say they were in one accord, but! No! but because someone with a wonderful web site and slick production sez it on youbob it must be true. I use John 21 as an excuse to go fishing, and I do hope to meet Jesus on the beach to share breakfast and talk about those fishing tips He gave the disciples. Is that “Church”? I do not want to miss it for the world! If Jesus, as the Wonderful Counselor, is not the High Priest of your priesthood of obedient disciple believers who is? Where will your wisdom come from? The Ark? The Temple? Where is your light O Israel? “Walk in the Light” Where is our bread? “Bread of Life” Where is our God’s Temple? Where did that ritual/rule come from? Which covenant? Does it follow flesh? or Grace? Jesus said the Holy Spirit will teach us. How does that work ? Does He speak thru His Word? John 14, Peter sez we are a royal priesthood a holy nation. We are to be one in Christ. Ephesians 4, Col 2, Gal 3, Acts 2, If we are divided and bitter we fail to love our brothers and sisters. If we consider our rules and practices the “Way” it better be the only “Way”. The danger is that teachers have the burden of being right with God. As a former builder of race cars and vehicles I know precision. How precise was God’s instruction to Noah? Moses? I am fed up with denominational bravo sierra that divides and shuns difference in opinion. Essentials are simple, Paul sums it up in Galatians 5. One law to rule them all. I am going to start a study on James. I want to know how a common Jew that was convinced his brother was crazy can come to the realization of the resurrection and pay for the Faith he has in his own half brother with his life as recorded by Josephus. If any one deserves the medal for courage under fire, James was ordered stoned by the same priests of the temple that did away with their King as he knew as his brother by Mary. Question? Why did Jesus hand over Mary’s care to John and not his half brother James or Jude? Jude, another brother by the same mother who followed his crazy brother to martyrdom we are told in later writings that may be legend. The cult of Mary does not start appearing in writing until much later in the middles ages. Google the facts! James was painted the wrong colors by Luther and later Calvin. James deserves better than that. Luther never understood James and that is a shame for Luther’s theology became so popular the German people could claim to be Christian and kill Jews. I read Luther’s bio on audible and a bio on Paul by N.T. Wright, who writes a very interesting book on Jesus as the Messiah. N.T. is an Anglican Church of England elder, I consider him a good scholar if disobedient brother. I have really enjoyed reading https://www.amazon.com/Will-Theologians-Please-Sit-Down on kindle. Verify all the Spirits voices!
A study of James will remove the bias that Paul and Peter seem to have. This has led many astray in understanding of Grace, obedience and into mixed up covenants. How could James not know who Jesus was, is and is to be? James may or may not have written Hebrews but as the shepherd of the ekklesia of Jerusalem he was well aware of the challenges of the early congregations that once were enemies are now to be One with Jesus as He is with the Father. We are to be one. If we believe in Jesus we must love him and love God, forsaking all others. We must do the next part of the command of Jesus as one law for if we love God we will love and honor His creation. We are so divided over theology and stuff that won’t matter on judgment day. How can we have unity without compromise? Our “Church” Ekllesia, congregation, worship group, prayer groups either honor Jesus Christ as Lord or not. more…….later.

The Word is not the book we now call the “Bible”. The Word or Logos is explained by Paul better than most in several of his letters. Here are some examples. click to see resources cited.

Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight– 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Jesus is All https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/ephesians/passage/?q=ephesians+1:3-14

Jesus used the word Temple in two places in John the second chapter. one place the Greek word describes a building a structure reserved for deity. The other refers to the spirit the presence of God in the sanctuary in the holy of holies. Click here if interested in studying of the Greek Word for temple.

Mom’s Day for me

I sometimes pray my real mom has found peace for her soul. I never met the woman that birthed me and loved me enough to know that she could not care for a baby as she was not much past dolls. What ever the reason she choose life for me. For that I am forever grateful. The preacher and his wife at East Point Christian Church near Atlanta was where he was preaching when the new baby was found to be with out parents. Aunt Katherine was older than the age of caring for a newborn with cancer and other health issues the couple decided to find someone else with too much love not to share. I am thankful for my moms. The one that raised my sons and those that held me when I cried.

No matter how we picture Jesus he loves us and our moms

Jesus cared for his mom. What did he tell the disciple he loved?https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/john/19.html

What am I to do? If God does all this………

What happened to tooth for tooth? In the Mayflower book the invaders (Pilgrims, Puritans, French, Spain, Dutch, English and a few others) are using the old testament to justify killing and enslaving the natives. Many christian nations, groups, used selected Old Covenant rules, rituals, and practices to justify slavery, rape, wars, genocide and more. During the 60s-70s we were eyewitness to the hatred that can come from “Church people” towards people of another race or culture. We saw congregations split over the race issue when we invited all the children of the neighborhood to our summer school on a Church bus. Many people showed that evil is alive and well in the pews. We see cults today building temples and claiming high ranks in priesthoods drawn from the old covenants, The old covenants had many details , many explanations for everyday issues, like what to do if someone is injured in a fight. Or what town to run to if you accidentally killed another person, or how to plant and farm your land. How to destroy a town and all its inhabitants. Rules for land ownership and dietary rules. We pick and choose which rules fit our agenda. We need cash? break out the OT support of the priests, the temple & associated festivals, and the feeding of the poor. Tithing was 23% or more, giving was mandatory to every male head of household to present before the Lord and not have empty hands. Next time you do the tithe give it before the Lord. (where is He? Hint, he might be that bum you passed on the street or the child that is hungry, or mother that has no food for her children) Give the way Jesus taught. If you want to do that via a local ministry, shelter or homeless person, Give from the heart freely with out compulsion to the the less fortunate. Let the fans support the entertainment on game day. The Jewish male had a outward, if hidden sign of the covenant of Abraham. Female circumcision was never practiced by the nation of Israel, that is a pagan practice. Circumcision was a cutting off, showing mastery over the flesh. In the Ekklesia we have no distinction or seperation of male and female. All are now Abraham’s children in Christ. All serve as parts of the Ekklesia on equal terms as servants of the High Priest. Women teach and are evangelists, prophets as much as men all under the oversight leadership of the elders selected by the ekklesia

See Gal3:26-27, What is Paul talking about in “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.” ? Does he mean the whole of the Law and all those mixed up rules from God?

Paul also said “Not with hands” Col 2:11-12, We put on Christ, what else do we need? Rules, rituals, temples, altars, reverends, titles, money, power, control? When we must, have to, make a rule or set up a ritual that we are required to follow that has the origin in the old covenants not repeated but fulfilled in the new final covenant we are saying Jesus is not enough, I must do this _________(fill in what they say you must do)

If Jesus is not the Alpha and the Omega of all creation then we are a people most sad. Jesus is my all in all. I need nothing more. What does Paul suggest for the Ekklesia to do? Corinthian letters are examples of direction from the apostle to the Church/Ekklesia/Body, not the building.

When we love as Jesus does we will move mountains and raise the dead. Work on that! John 6:29-36 the work of God.

https://www.biblestudytools.com/1-corinthians/7-19-compare.html https://www.biblestudytools.com/nkjv/1-corinthians/7-19.htmlhttps://www.biblestudytools.com/nkjv/1-corinthians/7-19.html

What are the commands of God Paul speaks of? “keeping” sounds like a work. The Greek word he used is a word that means obeying, complying.

Does this mean we keep the old laws, old rules, rituals and paid fully supported, ranked in layers of power, controlling clergy? Why? To what end?

Will I need a lifetime plus to learn how? yes eternity!

How many “One Anothers” did Jesus say as commands? “One another” is two words in English, but it’s only one word in Greek: ἀλλήλων (ah-LAY-loan). It’s used 100 times in 94 New Testament verses. 47 of those verses give instructions to the church, and 60% of those instructions come from Paul. See the “One Anothers” in the Word https://overviewbible.com/one-another-infographic/ If I take action on these?

Does “obey” mean that I must love God and my neighbor? What did Ananias think about before meeting Saul? Did he question God? Did he obey? What did Saul/Paul do? What was Saul complying to? Did Saul obey the commands of Jesus? How many times must God speak to be heard over the shouts of men?

Keeping the law vs the keeping the commandments of Jesus. John 14 has this from Jesus “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them,he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. “

This command pops up in Galatians here “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Link to Gal 5

Isaiah 50:10 Obey the servant. We have Jesus. Do we use the various old covenant items (rituals, traditions, rules) to patch up a mixed covenant religion? Is Jesus a fixit for Jews and the Temple? Or is Jesus the Alpha and Omega of everything? Here is a good understanding of the Law and Jesus by my friend Phil. No need for me to try do do this better. Phil is awesome in understanding of Grace

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+50&version=NLT

https://www.biblestudytools.com/kjv/2-corinthians/5.html

What happened to the thief on the Cross? The other one?

The story of the two bad guys, called thieves, maybe criminals or just poor homeless people trying to survive in a hard world. The gospels record the story of two theives are crucified and died with Jesus Christ during the same execution day. The trio hangs from the nails, ropes, and wood the Romans used to affix humans to wooden crosses, trees, scaffolds and anything handy in time of war. Two have been tried and convicted by Roman law to die by the cruel mode of ending human life in an especially painful, degrading manner of crucifixion. The place of execution and Judea saw 30K+ according to Josephus, a Roman historian of the era. The trials of Jesus before the execution were jokes. Neither Pilate or the Jewish puppet ruler said Jesus was guilty of a crime against the state or people. The Jews wanted Jesus dead because of the blasphemy of claiming to be the “I AM” When the Jews heard that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah/Almighty God of Isaiah https://www.biblehub.com/isaiah/9-6.htm they plotted the death and fulfilled every prophecy concerning the sacrifice on the Cross of the lamb of God.

Jesus, of course, has all power from the Father and way back then on the cross had the power to forgive the sins (and raise the dead) of this poor man on a Roman cross alongside Him on that day of infamy when the Jews gave up their King for Rome.

Was the other thief saved? He saw Jesus (or he was blind). Did he believe? We don’t know. I would never place God in a box and tell him what he can or not do? An exception of God’s grace and great mercy does nothing for your own belief or actions. James wrote of faith, deeds, actions or “works”

What are your deeds? belief? Do you “Do the Work of God” plus show up for nose and nickel count at set time and place. Jesus said to obey his commands, no he was not teaching the big ten. Jesus, healed, cared for, fed the hungering, freed the captives of sin. Follow Jesus. Love your neighbors, forgive your enemies

The New Birth, required, Spirit + Water https://christianstandard.com/2019/03/the-new-birth/?fbclid=IwAR1gkOsGQ8dHc7fo1dX_OmQR1e0eWQ9m6DxqCRsXR4KYJxuLFAUCDwT8qWo

We believe the Bible to be inspired, the only reliable, authoritative Word of God. Is it a statement of many creeds, what does that mean? We believe that the original author’s writings as written and the word of God as delivered to the Apostles. We as Paul advises reject any and all latter day, all after 125AD or any so-called revelations, creeds, councils, edicts or any man-made doctrines in conflict with the Word. All traditions, rituals, rules, laws and /or new revelations by angels or Man in conflict or division from the original follow Jesus and Love God commands is Anathema. Home Church Locations online. This includes any judgment, rule in place, banishment, shunning or umbrage taken by any follower for another over music or sounds is anti-Christ and anti-love. Here is an example of “House Church” in San Francisco.

Here is a congregation in Texas with an online presence. Modeled after the structure of the San Fran group. http://wearechurchrichmond.com/

Here is a sample of online statements:

• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

• We believe in the deity and humanity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His present rule as Head of the Church.

• We believe in the salvation through God’s grace of all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone.

• We believe in the indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, by which the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

• We believe in the future personal return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of both the repentant and unrepentant who will be judged by Jesus with justice and mercy; for those who are repentant unto the resurrection of eternal life and those who are unrepentant unto eternal condemnation.

• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ with equality across racial, gender and class differences.s as much as possible

We must repent, Jesus said so many times. Peter said “Repent and be converted” We can’t repent if we are unable to do so because of pride.. Repentance in the New Testament was a restoration, a recompense of a wrong, example of the tax collector, Jesus gave several commands, parables to explain repentance. Paul gives us the commentary via the Holy Spirit in 2 Corinthians 5 “Ministry of Reconciliation” Do you feel our God will trick or place “Catch 22” situations as traps for us?

So many divided denominations and daughters of the whore of Babylon teach an infant baptism gives life long salvation. Even the cart and horse story makes more sense. Jesus alone saves us by faith in His work,

Francis may be many things to many people. He is on target with the new wine and new wineskins approach to following Jesus as Jesus commanded and not the divided mixed covenant model of the divided denominations walking in darkness.

What Satan has done via the effects of men and the wolves in sheep clothing that speak with the dragon’s voice to the Church is confuse and confound us by making the “Tower of Babel” look like “Old Home Church Week with Sunday dinner on the ground”. Comparing the modern US model to the Church of the First Century model we see in the Acts. Reflected in the mirror of followers that wrote first-person letters, notes and left records of Church activities prior to 125-150AD or CE. Reading these are like learning what the early church did and said about Christian life, serving Christ and struggles they had with heresies like Gnostics that developed before John, the one Jesus loved, died. His disciple Polycarp wrote letters and wrote reports. Reading these and comparing them to later after 450 CE letters from church leaders is like reading the old covenant writings with rules and rituals, copied pagan practices and Mosaic laws, Vs the pure simple Gospel of Love God gives us freely in Jesus Christ. The early writers give messages of love, directions to keep the faith in opposition of heretics. 300 years later the letters written after Constantine and the council of Nicea are filled with rules, laws, prohibitions and man’s sinful doctrine that preaches power, control and the lust of money in the name of religion. Most of our later day heretics are harder to spot in America.

How much of the wealth is tied up in “Church” property that can not heal, help, support the ministry of reconciliation and “The least of These”? What did Jesus say about wealth?

Many are sincere people, some are considered Saints by their church or denomination. Many like to have titles and wear ranks we do not find in the new agreement where Jesus washes sinful men’s dirty feet to teach humility to his closest followers who were arguing non-essentials. Satan uses our friends, our leaders, our families to divide us. We must realize that tradition must be analyzed and measured against the actual truth. Or our truth is in the hands of people who believe there is no truth. Heretics bend the truth or I should say hide the lie with just enough truth just enough so the lie does not smell so bad. As Jesus called the “Whitewashed walls” of his day. We have them today. Article on the early church and baptism

OK, St Augustine of Hippo wrote of sins of the flesh, his lust for women and his obsession with sex. This lust transferred over to a label on the sexual act as sinful. Calling what God gave as a blessing in marriage between one man and one woman as a sin. This error of understanding has caused much sadness in many hearts of good people . Religious sexual suppression is another story. If religious leaders can label the very act of conception as sinful then the result of that can be labeled sinful and so it goes. Soon we can abort the unwanted flesh or just label it dirty. This is taking the good that God gives us and calling it evil. That is wrong on so many levels. Auggie also took infant depravity to a new level of evil. Using his reasoning based on his ideas of lust of the flesh, then babies are evil, sinful and damned to hell with out the “Sacrament” of baptism (immersion, water, Spirit) That it was unsafe to dunk babies, death bed confessors and some obscure cases AKA the thief on the cross. The councils later agreed to allow sprinkling or pouring (see Didache), but how was this and why did it become policy/doctrine? Some also said that the act was not important. The baby as sinful is miss read of Romans 5 by Auggie. St Auggie read the letter in Latin and mistranslated at that. What ever Adm did the sex act was not sinful, his and Eve’s disobedience was the sin, rebellion in the heart is sin, not eating an apple (having sex in marriage of man and women) The couple were following God’s plan before the choice they made to sin by disobeying. Even if the story is Allegory of the real story. God’s Truth is evident. He loves his children, babies and full grown and He, the Mighty God, Lord of Lords is not willing that any perish.

Is it a work? We are told that baptism is a work and that it can’t save us. we are saved by grace. OK agreed that we are saved by grace and that the action of immersion is something done to us by another and God. Without our personal faith in Jesus and His work on the cross you will be wet and unchanged otherwise. The action is an act of obedience that the convinced believer who confesses Jesus as Lord and repents of their sins follows up with as the first in many steps of obedience that the disciple will soon take on the Way of a lifetime of following Jesus.

The short version of our history , we trace back to the revivals and new era of a cry for restoration of the primitive Ekklesia of the Lord during the early 1800s, the Restoration movement was formed and within 100 years had divided in to 3 visiable camps, each claiming to be the true “Church” aka Ekklesia in the Greek meaning citizens called out or gathering, or as Bill Tyndale printed new testements with the word “Congregation” and the Roamn Church killed him and others for that translation later fixed in the KJV when the Church of England used the German word for Ekklesia as Church as a location. Jesus meant for His Church aka Ekklesia to be made up of living stones on the Rock of ages not any man or woman , no matter how “rightous” or pompous they may seem are just humans. When I consider my sins to be a less smelly pile than yours I fail to see you and love you as Jesus does. When I think another is less dispiciable to God on their own than you or I then I am a fool.

Back to the history now that we define Church as it was meant to be, not some place to go. Look at the old covenants in the Hebrew History we call the old Testement, of course it is in the bibile is the attitude of some that will swear on it , curse from it and commit every sin under heaven in it’s holy to them’s rule. Them that has the gold rules! Look at history of the Church, it is a battle described in Revelation, of good vs evil for our souls

God revealed himself to the tribes of isreal, hundreds of years after the death of Moses, the five scrools of the law are written. The history of the Jews and their ideas of God, prophets and Kings, The relation ship with the people was via the temple and the priesthood. Do your reasearch the jews wanted the temple, the king. They wanted to be like the foriegen nations around them they were commanded to take out. God wants a personal relation ship with you, how you interpet that is your business with Him. You may find him in a temple or a rock concert. You may find him through the words you hear or read or see. The Lord’s Holy Spirit is like the wind Jesus said, “You must be born of the water and the Spirit”

I love to go back and see the old restoration writings of the 1800s when they were debating, preaching from farm community to wilderness, before the slavery issuse and after they remained true to the Word as they translated it out of the Greek that was written down somewhere between 1st centuray to ? I enjoy reading where this truth of God and our relationship is fundamental. God loves you and me with equal intensity. Our sins are not a problem for God. Jesus has taken care of all of them forever one time, one sacrifice, done deal God’s great love paid our impossible debt with the presious blood of the lamb of God. And He lives in the temple you prepare for Him or He does not. What was the covenant with Solomon and the first temple? The priest of God cleaned it up and made it special, devoted to God. In Revelation a measurement of the temple is done using a measurement God gives an angel. The Church is being measured, no structure on earth, no other name known to men will work.

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1. Mutual respect for another means I love you too much to sin against you or God in your presence or to allow you to continue in sin against others or God. Not about judging, but about saving.

2. Jesus was/is a friend of sinners, lived with the poor and least of these. Who is going to serve the “least of these”, dones, nones, ?

3. Being forgiven is a gift, not a title of rank. We are servants of Jesus, yet a royal priesthood of the least of these of equal rank. That is what “Wash feet” means.

4. We can build a church of sticks and bricks, or as Jesus did with living stones on the foundation of the Rock of Ages.

5. Prayer in the name of Jesus separates the Ekklesia from the “religions of the world”. Our redeemer lives!

6. Be prepared to be used, if one time like Ananias with Saul or thousands like Phillip.

7. “Tame the tongue” Train the ear! This one is mine. James sez “rudder” as in control your boat. Paul sez we can control the tongue

8. Who are you compassionate about? Wash the feet of your brothers and sisters. Be kind to neighbors. There is a difference.

9. God is in the details, watching.

10. Thankful, and able to be thankful of others.

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