Mangdiddles

Re:

2011-12-21T15:56:00.001-05:00

http://mankestorms.zzl.org/next2012.php?wid=23&yz=59&tumut=289&aqoh=42

HEY MO! This One's For You.

2011-07-10T11:12:00.002-04:00

Special thanks to Uncle Dan's Dad for sending this to me in an email.

It made my day.

Jesus Was A Jew... And He Looked Like One Too

2011-04-24T17:02:00.000-04:00

Ahhh. Here we are again.

Instead of getting on to things of global and spiritual importance, I think I am going to continue to rant for a while.

Topic of discussion: Facebook, or rather, the stupidity of Facebook and the comments seen on it.

Example? I got on there this morning, and the first thing I see is,

"Happy rabbit day everyone :D"

Now... don't ask me why, but this just about made me drive to the person's house, rip him out of bed, smack him across the face, and simply ask, "why?"

And there-in lies the problem with Facebook; everything under the sun - no matter how profound or mundane, is reduced to this menial, sappy, slapstick type of talk that doesn't exist in the real world.

The Messiah, prophesied by men for nearly six thousand years was crucified on a tree. Dead for three days, pierced through the side, a Roman soldier's spear penetrating His heart - which released it's contents onto the ground. Taken down and placed in a tomb. Dead. Three days. The single greatest miracle of all time - without which, we would all be damned to eternity in Hell... and all we can say about it in a public forum is,

"Happy rabbit day everyone :D."

I won't get into the theological stupidity of the rabbit symbolism, or how paganism that has taken over Christianity right now - this is about Facebook. Do you get my point though?

Then we have the self proclaimed theologians who talk, and talk, and talk, and never say anything of any importance. These guys are the Fishers of Men's Arguments - because that's all that they are trying to do; fish for an argument. Useally it goes like this, "Did Jesus really mean that He was the ONLY way?"

I'm sure you've seen it before. The post is usually riddled with replies, or "likes" tags, from a bunch of folks who don't really care what Jesus meant at all. The question would be more honest if it asked, "What do we want it to mean when Jesus said He was the only way? How do we get out of that one without sounding like isolationists?"

...problem is, you don't get many thumbs-up on Facebook for honesty.

Recently I had an email message that said, "Jesus wants to be your friend" from the Facebook Team.

Guess what... that's not Jesus. I understand what he is trying to do, but is that really a good idea? Does Jesus really want him doing that? Isn't that what the bible is for; to get His Word to His people? Does He really need help? I doubt it.

...and the profile picture is of the blond hair, blue eyed Jesus. You know the one; the most historically incorrect depiction of our Messiah known to man. All he needs is a pair of glasses, and you have a picture of my neighbor; my 30 year old, white-guy, Budweiser drinking neighbor - not a Jewish rabbi.
Maybe we are more comfortable with a jesus who looks like George Harrison or Brad Pitt.

I actually saw a good representation of Him, here it is:

...and this one doesn't really have anything to do with the topic, it just cracks me up.

HA!

(thanks to www.totallylookslike.com)

Bear with me here; I have been away for a while, so as soon as I can get some of this rage purged, I will get onto other topics of more importance.

That reminds me... tonight starts the final Sabbath of Pesach (Passover / Feast of Unleavened Bread), so I gotta go for now.

...I forgot how much fun this was.

Democratic base, Obama has a message for ya.

2011-04-24T00:23:00.001-04:00

WOW. Where has the time gone? We have a lot of catching up to do. So much has happened since I posted last...

First off, you all should know that Mango died. He lived to the ripe age of 12, and would have lived longer, but (you know Mango) his vibrant playfulness lead him to chase, and eat, a few rubber bands. At least that's what I think happened. He was totally healthy one day, then, BANG!! No more Mango. For the record, it wasn't very peaceful either - we had several trips to the vet - all after hours, and multiple shots; everything from hormones to vitamins, Mango had it. And they all failed. RIP old friend.

Next, it seams that the United States has completely lost our collective mind. For some reason, all of the Bush-hating liberal freaks have turned in their "Close Gitmo" hats for "Bomb Lybia" T-shirts! What a crock!

Let's get this straight; Bush was a "war criminal" for "torturing" prisoners of war. Because of the atrocities taking place at Guantanamo Bay, the Left said that the ONLY cure was to close it - and by God, they were going to elect the perfect liberal to get the job done. Only problem is that when Barack Hussein Obama gets his opportunity to put an end to it... he does nothing.

He does nothing, and the Left is totally quiet about it! It gets better though. Not only does he not close it, but he tells the world that it needs to stay open for business indefinately! Hey Democrats, remember this little jab?

...right back atcha.

Speaking of Bizarro-America, explain to me again why it is ok to go into Lybia and start bombing without Congressional approval, and only about 9 country's support at the UN? Didn't Bush have the supporting votes of Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and every other bleeding heart Democrat in office at the time - full Congressional approval, and the backing of over 90 countries at the UN? Am I the only one who remembers that? Remember how Bush was again, committing war crimes? He was "goin' it alone" and all of that?

...isn't that a classic example of the pot calling the ket- oh yeah, that brings up another point - the media is telling us that it is "un-patriotic" to criticize the president now! Can you believe that? After all of the posters of Bush sporting that Hitler mustashe and the rhetoric telling us that "desention is the new patriotism" and all, I was under the impression that the media would be patting conservatives on the back for calling out the hipocracy of the current regime.

What's that? I'm sorry - I was under the impression that the term "regime" was ok now, after hearing it every other word form the pundits on the Left.

...but I digress...

Back to Lybia. All of you people who criticized Bush for "his wars," which he conducted illeagal...

your president has a message for you:

...remember, we need to keep the political rhetoric polite.

Let's see, what else has been happening? He's looking to put a kill-switch on the internet (like every other totalitarian dictator in the world), strangle domestic energy production (like every other totalitarian dictator in the world), raise taxes, and limit America's economic growth. Hope and change.

I had every intention of getting back on Mangdiddles with a positive attitude - a new outlook on life and blogging. I really did, but dang! look around - the world is completely nuts. I will go to bed tonight wondering how long it will take before I am put on a "list" of some sort for speaking out against the regime. Android is tracking my phone's location, and the liberals are spying on the Tea Party. Phone taps are all of the sudden legal, and no problem.

'Bush = Hitler" was witty and full of political candor, 4% unemployment was considered irresponsible and wreckless; the raising of the debt ceiling was a matter of National Security - a thing we aught not even consider. Man, those were the days. Back when the morons on the Left were fighting against problems that were in most cases nonexistant. Now, their own guy is doing the exact same things, to the Nth power - wiping his feet on the Constitution, and spitting on personal liberties, and what is their reaction? They worship him. They bury the negative stories, and rally the troops around his vacation spa to protect him.

In spite of all of this,

it's good to be back.

Hold me closer, tiny dancer.

2010-10-02T12:11:00.002-04:00

This is the funniest caption I have ever seen in all of my years as a political news junkie:

(from www.hotair.com - click here to read the story)

HA!

The Devil Went Down To DC...

2010-09-25T10:28:00.000-04:00

The Devil Went Down To DC he was looking for Freedoms to steelhe was out of his mind, 'cause he was way behindworking on a new "New Deal..." Sorry, I had to.

Now, for an open letter to the president from Charlie Daniels. For the record, Charlie's beard has more sense concerning liberty than Obama does.
(This is taken from Newsbusters.com, to which I greatly appreciate, and in no way want to get on their bad side for sharing their material. Check their site out today - you will be glad you did.).....................................................................

Mr. President,
I write this letter as a patriot, a taxpayer, a lifelong resident and as concerned citizen of what I consider to be the greatest nation ever known to man, the United States of America.
I am Caucasian, so let's get the racial aspect out of the way to start with. This letter has nothing to do with your race. I lived through the cruelty of Jim Crow and segregation and learned early on in my life that the color of my skin does not make me better or worse than any other man.
We all remember Martin Luther King, Jr.'s statement about judging people, not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character, and I believe that with all my heart.
I believe that America is an exceptional country. We have been liberator, benefactor and leader of the free world for centuries. America is an example of what can be achieved by free people living under the free enterprise system.

We have led the world in technology, industry, science and medicine for a long time.
Our capitalist system guarantees that those who explore new worlds and bring us new products and better techniques are amply rewarded for their efforts, and this is as it should be.
A person who is the first one to get there and the last one to leave, who burns the midnight oil and never gives up until they realize their goals, are a boon to humankind. They're the ones who discover new cures, start new industries and create jobs.
These people deserve to be rewarded for their hard work and for the products and services they bring to make life better for all mankind.
Mr. President, it is my personal opinion that you want to take the well-earned rewards of these people and give it to those who have done nothing to deserve them.
It's really redistribution of wealth, and it's nothing new. It's been tried many places before and it has miserably failed in every one of them.
It's called socialism.
Am I calling you a socialist? Yes, I am. I firmly believe that you are a socialist and a globalist, and that you think America should have a comeuppance and have our playing field leveled to match those of other countries not as industrious or as innovative as we are.
Mr. President, how can you support the building of a mosque in the very same area where Islamic radicals murdered so many Americans?
Just who's side are you on?
Am I accusing you of being a Muslim? No I'm not, but the jury is still out a little bit on that subject in my mind, because many times your sympathies seem to lean in that direction. You need to watch who you bow to Mr. President.
You have betrayed a whole generation of African-Americans who voted for you because they really believed all that junk about "hope and change," they really thought you were going to do something great and the only thing you've done is to make their jobs disappear and their health insurance go up.
You and your party have corrupted duly elected officials in an effort to get your legislative agenda passed. Remember the "Louisiana Purchase" and the "Cornhusker Kickback," and that's just a couple we know about, but you bought off a bunch of congressmen and senators, knowing that you were going against the will of the majority of Americans, because you think that you and your arrogant friends know more about what's good for America than the citizens your disastrous actions effect.
Am I accusing you of being an elitist? You bet.
I don't believe you take the Islamic threat to America nearly as seriously as you should. You use semantics like "Overseas Contingency Operation" and "Man Caused Disasters" to soften your rhetoric toward people who would like nothing better than decapitate the entire population of America.
And Mr. President, if you'd really like to know the kind of warriors who are fighting the "Overseas Contingency Operation," and you would like to really know about what kind of enemies they're fighting, you should read a book called Lone Survivor by a brave, young Navy Seal named Marcus Lutrell who went to hell and back for his country, and is still a dedicated patriot. I think you'd find it enlightening, Mr. President and after you finish it would you pass it on to Janet Napolitano? And by the way, tell her that my invitation to take her to Iraq and show her some "Man Caused Disasters" is still open.
Am I calling you naïve? Absolutely.
You seem to think that America has an endless supply of tax dollars for you to waste and give away, and the debt you've piled up could well bankrupt the greatest nation on earth.
Am I calling you a failure, Mr. President? With all due respect that's exactly what I'm doing.

Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/charlie-daniels/2010/09/24/open-letter-president-obama#ixzz10YTYxNUN

Meet Our Legacy

2010-09-24T07:19:00.003-04:00

No, this isn't a counter keeping track of lies told by Liberals, or the Leftist media, or even Barack Hussein Obama; it is our National Debt.
Caution: watching too long will cause those who love the United States of America to become very, very angry.

Meet Wheezie.

2010-09-12T15:16:00.002-04:00

(click image to see a huge version of this picture)
Every chance I get, I like to take my kids (my wife doesn't care for it) to a huge outdoor flea market near Putnamville, Indiana (South of Greencastle) called Croy Creek (visit their website here).

We have been able to get a lot of things for our house, vehicles, work, etc, but our best purchase yet has been Wheezie. She's a full blooded Black Pug. No papers, no manners, and she smells, but she's the best dog we've ever had.

...just sayin'

WOW.

2010-09-12T11:28:00.000-04:00

Words escape me. This guy brings fiddle playing to a level that it has never been.

Comfortable...

2010-09-05T04:17:00.000-04:00

I'm not exactly sure why this one speeds up and slows down, but this is the best I could do. Hope you like it.

Not "Phobic" - Just Opposed To

2010-09-02T23:37:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to get a couple things straight...

If you pay attention to the news, you may be under the impression that most people who lean to the Right, such as myself, are "Homo-phobic," "Islamo-phobic," or "Racist." I want to talk about the first two.

Let's first define what a phobia is. According to Dictionary.com:

-noun

a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity,

or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.

I would add that the key word here is fear. This is where I have a problem with such labels, and here is where things need to be straightened out. I, personally, am not afraid of Homosexuals or Muslims (those who follow Islam as their faith). I am opposed to homosexuality - not afraid of those who choose to live the lifestyle. I will admit, I do have a 'compelling desire to avoid it,' but I am not afraid of it. The reason for my opposition is that God's Word tells us it is sin. Like everything else, anyone speaking truth has to add a disclaimer, so I will say that I am not against the person, but the lifestyle. And it is the lifestyle that will keep me from being in the continuing company of a homosexual. Drunkenness is sin too, and I will help an alcoholic as much as I can - but they will never practice their alcoholism in my home or around my wife and kids. Same goes for the homosexual. I won't be inviting them to our house for movies on Saturday night. And yet this is not fear - it is acting with wisdom. Enough said about that.

Now for "Islamo-phobia." Not afraid. I know two Muslims who I believe to be of good integrity - they wouldn't blow my house up for wearing tzi-tzit or a kippa. I doubt they are going to a training camp in Yemen this summer to learn the finer arts of bomb making. However, when a person of Islamic beliefs says openly that America "got what it had coming" on Sept.11, then I am in direct opposition. When they want to build a symbol of victory at Ground Zero, I am against it. Call it what you will, but it is not a 'fear' of Islam; it is opposition to an evil ideology that claims the right to kill innocent people in the name of their god. It is opposition to a Left-leaning media that tells us the Religion of Peace had nothing to do with the last 4,000 terrorist attacks, and an opposition to anyone who calls for the death of those who do not convert to their beliefs. That is not a "phobia," but again, wisdom.

Remember when we were kids and our elders told us to treat people like we wanted to be treated? Why is that only being applied to those who are opposed to an ideology that spits in the faces of our Founding Fathers? Call me a fundamentalist, a fanatic, a Right-Winger, a Bible Thumper, or what ever it is you need to call me, but don't label me as afraid of Islam and gays. After all, don't they both cry for their rights? Their right to be heard, their right to be counted, and their right to be what they are? How can any group of people expect to stand for the rights of their group while trampling the same rights of those they are standing up to?

...And racist? Please. My Savior - my Master, Yeshua (Jesus) is a Jew. I will serve Him until the day I die. We are all made in God's image! I could never swear allegiance to Jesus and hate His creation for the way He made them. That is nonsense. However, never are we expected to agree with the ideas of a person based on his or her skin color. If I disagree with you, it is because of your position, not your skin color. That whole argument is a juvenile, pathetic way out of having to prove your point with any intellectual comprehension; and just the accusation of racism whenever a disagreement comes up simply proves your lack of solid ground for whatever Liberal piece of excrement you are trying to sell to the American public.

You All Called Me Paranoid

2010-08-26T18:24:00.000-04:00

I can remember being called paranoid when I told people that the government could track us with GPS... well, here it is guys. This time it is coming from Time Magazine. And we know they're not paranoid.

The Government Can Use GPS to Track Your Moves

Government agents can sneak onto your property in the middle of the night, put a GPS device on the bottom of your car and keep track of everywhere you go. This doesn't violate your Fourth Amendment rights, because you do not have any reasonable expectation of privacy in your own driveway — and no reasonable expectation that the government isn't tracking your movements.
That is the bizarre — and scary — rule that now applies in California and eight other Western states. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which covers this vast jurisdiction, recently decided the government can monitor you in this way virtually anytime it wants — with no need for a search warrant. (See a TIME photoessay on Cannabis Culture.)
It is a dangerous decision — one that, as the dissenting judges warned, could turn America into the sort of totalitarian state imagined by George Orwell. It is particularly offensive because the judges added insult to injury with some shocking class bias: the little personal privacy that still exists, the court suggested, should belong mainly to the rich.
This case began in 2007, when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents decided to monitor Juan Pineda-Moreno, an Oregon resident who they suspected was growing marijuana. They snuck onto his property in the middle of the night and found his Jeep in his driveway, a few feet from his trailer home. Then they attached a GPS tracking device to the vehicle's underside.
After Pineda-Moreno challenged the DEA's actions, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit ruled in January that it was all perfectly legal. More disturbingly, a larger group of judges on the circuit, who were subsequently asked to reconsider the ruling, decided this month to let it stand. (Pineda-Moreno has pleaded guilty conditionally to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and manufacturing marijuana while appealing the denial of his motion to suppress evidence obtained with the help of GPS.)
In fact, the government violated Pineda-Moreno's privacy rights in two different ways. For starters, the invasion of his driveway was wrong. The courts have long held that people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their homes and in the "curtilage," a fancy legal term for the area around the home. The government's intrusion on property just a few feet away was clearly in this zone of privacy.

Read the rest here: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2013150,00.html#ixzz0xl0m6Dzq

Opey's Parents Had One Good Son...

2010-08-24T23:24:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, the "elected official" in this video is Ron Howard's brother.

...if memory serves me correctly, "Lil' Ronnie" is a hard-core liberal now-a-days.

At least their parents can be proud of one of their son's moral integrity.

Thanks, NewsBusters.com.

Man Looks On The Outside

2010-08-21T08:48:00.000-04:00

We need to take a break form the insane world that we live in and listen to some music. Bluegrass music.
This is "Man Looks On The Outside" performed by Kenny and Amanda Smith. This song was written by a good friend of mine, Jim Denman...

The "8 Million Word Mess" by Herman Cain

2010-07-22T22:18:00.004-04:00

If Chris Christie doesn't run for president in 2012 and Herman does, Herman will get my vote.
Please take notice that the only reason I would choose Chris over Herman at this point, is Chris has a superb track record so far as a politician (see previous post).
Not because I am a racist.
While I'm at it, the fact that I am against big government has nothing to do with race, nor does my opposition to Marxism, Communism, Stalin-ism, Fascism, Socialism, and Obamaism. I am against taxing the crap out of citizens who work hard for their money, and I am against the stripping away of the personal freedoms of individuals... but not because I am a racist.
I am against such things because I am a Constitutionalist. And if that makes me a racist, then we are in big trouble.
Back to Herman

Listen to what he has to say about the Eight Million Word Mess we call a Tax Code:

Conservatism, ladies and gentlemen - that's the answer.

Read more about Herman on Worldnetdaily.com, here.

...weird, I thought the Tea Party folks were all racist.

Chris Christie, That's Who.

2010-07-20T17:09:00.001-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted, and with good reason. It seems like the news is an on-going bad movie about how to destroy this great country. I have been going about my day to day business with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach - how are we going to fix this? Can it be stopped? Is it too late?

Well, three bleeding ulcers later, I am here to tell you that I have seen the answer to my questions.

I knew all along that the answer would lie in Conservatism, but who would have the kahunas to stand up and start making the change (not to be confused with the other 'change') happen?

I have two words for you:

Chris Christie.

This guy is amazing. He says what he means, and means what he says. We need more people running for office that are just like him.

I will leave you with some of his better moments

(don't leave without seeing the 'journalist smack-down').

What has Christie accomplished so far?

...the smack-down.

on accountability

on Obama's stimulus package

Christie's message to Obama:

Who will protect us from you?

2010-04-02T07:55:00.003-04:00

Straight from their own mouths, people.We all know it, but sometimes it helps to hear it from their own traitorous lips. Wasn't this man sworn to uphold the United States Constitution? And the President and Armed Forces sworn to protect it from enemies "domestic and foreign?"It seems that the Left has found themselves in a conundrum of sorts! They are sworn to uphold and protect the Constitution from ...themselves.

Phil Hare (D-IL) "doesn't care."

We need to vote these people out. They are traitors.

The Constitution does not give us rights.

2010-03-25T20:10:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to relay something that popped into my head earlier today... The Constitution does not give us rights. Keep that in mind in the coming months and years - The Constitution does not give us rights. The Constitution assures the rights that are endowed to us by our Creator. The Constitution tells us that those rights are "self evident" and given to us by God Himself.Do you get that? The Constitution states that the rights that we love so much were given to us by Him. It states it - it does not initiate it. Lets keep it in perspective, as this administration continues to chip away at personal freedoms. They are freedoms given to us by our Maker.

God Help Us...

2010-03-21T23:24:00.000-04:00

Well, they did it.

This century's most corrupt band of liars, cheats and thugs have made the biggest step yet toward making America a Communist Nation.

The words "transparent" and "open" mean nothing to them.

Democracy and Capitolism are swear words to them.

Truth and Justice are a nuisance to them.

Thanks to everybody who refused to believe Obama when he told us he was going to "fundamentally change America."

Thanks for not reading his voting record while he was still in Illinois.

Thanks a lot for voting for "hope and change."

Because of your pathetic lack of responsibility and foresight, you have effectively ruined any chance for future generations to know the liberties that we have seen.

If you voted for "O" you should be ashamed of yourselves.

Imagine if George W. Bush were to have conducted himself in the manner in which our illustrious president has. Would the press let him off for such a string of lies? For allowing and encouraging open bribery?

Would they have kissed his feet, and treated him like deity while hounded representatives, gave them rides on Air Force One, and gave their family members life-long positions in the judicial system?

No. They would have raked him over the coals.

They would have... well, they would have treated him like George W. Bush.

Welcome to the New Deal, only it isn't a new deal at all - it is an outright Marxist take over.

This is nothing more than Communism.

The whole thing makes me feel ill.

Time...

2010-03-06T01:01:00.000-05:00

I have let my readers down. I apologize. Please allow me to give a few ~~excuses~~ reasons for the blatant neglect of Mangdiddles.OK, I have very little time these days to blog. I hate to be blunt, but dang! We are dealing with some stuff here!What sort of stuff, you might ask? Allow me to elaborate...
The first on the list is that we are expecting a new baby. Yes, a new baby... and yes, it was on purpose. I'm not getting any younger, and to tell you the truth, I am a sucker for little one's. I love having little kids in the house - they are so sporatic and off-the-wall, that they make me laugh & appreciate being alive. Besides that, we are commanded to "be fruitful and multiply." How can I argue with that? ...well, actually, I can interpret that a few ways - three kids is fruitful. Four kids is fruitful. Truth is, I don't know how many "fruitful" is, but the thought of having a whole bunch tickles me.I'll fill you in on a little secret (my wife doesn't read Mangdiddles - go figure): I worry for my kids' future in America. We are letting our boarders down, steeping debt on the unborn ...that we decide not to kill, and destroying the foundational principles that America was founded on. ...But that's another story. I am being pulled in all directions concerning business. Sometimes I wonder if I am in the right line of work, and if it is even safe to consider getting out of it. I love my job... my job doesn't always love me though. These are not the best times to change careers. Enough said on that. My kids are growing up, which adds a whole new dynamic to the equation - working on their vehicles, explaining chemistry & algebra (we home-school). The fact that my oldest is as tall as me, and eats twice as much as I do just... honestly, it makes me sad. I hate it. I would give anything to go back in time, and prioritize my life. I have failed in 'time management.' I have been doing portraits and such on the side - I love doing it, but it takes a bunch of time.Time. There's never enough when I am at home, and it never goes fast enough while I'm at work.I am teaching the book of 1 John at church, which takes a lot of time too.
I promise to try to keep up-to-date on here. Pray for me, as I want to be a person, who in the end people can say, "man, he did it right."

What is sin? No, no... the biblical definition.

2010-01-19T00:38:00.002-05:00

So, it's been about a 10 years since I've posted here, and after a lot of false starts, I've decided to get back in the saddle. Time is of the essence in my world at the moment. I am teaching 1 John at church, which has been a total blessing (see links below to listen), and my business is starting to branch a little, which is good and bad. Good for obvious reasons - any work is good work; bad because of the amount of paperwork and time on the computer (which means time away from my family).At any rate, I am here for the moment, so let me talk about John's 1st epistle.
As you may know, I believe that the Torah is not only valid for believers today, but I believe that it is to be obeyed. This of course is not the popular opinion within the body of Christ today. ...Let me tell you why I am at odds with the opinion of the church as we know it, and what I believe John, and the rest of the Apostolic writers, were talking about.That's as good of a kick off to a commentary as I can think of, so here goes:

In the first chapter of 1 John (read it here), we see John telling his readers, "⁵ This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. There is a paradox in these verses. John tells us (by way of inspiration f the Holy Spirit), that God is "light," and in Him is no darkness at all. This reminds me of James' words, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." He is light, so there is no variation or shadow of turning. Notice that He is also the "Father of lights." God created light in the first place. By default, He is the literal Father of light; but not only that sort of light. Jesus is the Son of God, and He is also called the Light. Stay with me.Let's back up for a moment, and look at what King David had to say about God's Word (Torah).Psalm 119:105; "Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path." We all agree that God's Word is light unto our path, right? Lamp unto our feet? Of course. We also agree that Jesus is the Light, which makes since, considering He is the Word made flesh. Jesus is the Light, the Father is Light, and His Word is Light. By default, darkness would imply a lack of either God the Father, Jesus the Son, or the Word, Given by the Father, right? Right. We are given the alternative here though; "if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."Here's where the paradox comes in. It all begins with the word "sin." John tells us that if we are in the light with Him, we not only have fellowship with each other, but with Him as well; and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.Be in the light. Have fellowship with won another, have fellowship with Him, and Jesus' blood cleanses us from all sin....so what is sin?Before you answer that question, I encourage you to read a couple chapters ahead in 1 John. John doesn't use the wishy-washy definitions that we are used to hearing. He never once mentions "falling short" or "anything against God's will." The definition that John gives is very simple:^{1 John 3:4} "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness" the emphasis on "and sin is lawlessness" is mine. That's the biblical definition of sin; lawlessness.Stay with me.John wrote this letter in Greek. He was living in Ephesus at the time, probably between 90 and 100AD. John uses a very specific word when describing "lawlessness" here. He uses the same word that the writers of the Septuagint used for... you guessed it, Torah. Not just any Torah - the same Torah that is found in synagogues all over the world. We call it "Old Testament Law." This becomes very important early on in John's book, because he will mention sin several times. Each time, we can rest assured that he holds the same meaning for the word, because he defined it.I know what you're thinking, "what is the Septuagint, and why does it matter what it says?"Good question. The Septuagint is nothing more than the Hebrew scriptures translated into Greek. Seventy men (hence the name Septuagint) did the translating, all Jews, who held the Torah in high regard. This is really important, so please bear with me...These seventy men were meticulous in the choosing of Greek words to translate the scriptures. The need for accuracy was paramount - they were translating God's Word, and they were very aware of the importance of the task. Now, fast forward to John, writing to the churches surrounding Ephesus. While penning the letter, he feels the need to define "sin." John and his contemporaries are used to one translation of the Scriptures - the Septuagint. Paul, James, John, all of them quote it. That was the "version" of the Word that they had. Back to John. While defining the word sin, he chooses to use the word "anomia" which means transgression of the law. Which Law? Torah. Nomia=Torah, or Law, while the "a" before it indicates a lacking of, or absent. You could say that sin is "no Torah" or "Torah-less-ness."John could have chosen from a handful of words to use in it's place, but he chose not to. He was simply telling the readers that sin equates to breaking Torah.I know this is a little choppy, but it is after midnight, and i have to get up at 5:00am. I'll write more noon.
You can listen to The Word Is grace podcast here.

Al Gore is a Liar.

2009-12-08T19:02:00.001-05:00

Howdee.

2009-11-05T15:16:00.000-05:00

I'm still alive.
Times are busy, busy, busy. Stay tuned - I am writing something new.
How 'bout that president, ay?
Be back soon - I promise.
(you thought that was going to be a haiku, didn't you?)

GOD FORBID.

2009-10-11T22:27:00.007-04:00

This is from News Busters.

NB: There's a new American flag available on the Internet that has a picture of President Obama in the corner where the stars representing our fifty states normally reside.

Given how our media have assisted in selling Obama paraphernalia since Inauguration Day, one has to wonder what their position will be on the attractive keepsake pictured right.

As NewsBusters has chronicled, news outlets up until now haven't been shy about pushing product associated with the new president... (click here to read the whole post at Newsbusters.com)

...................................................................

Read the rest at Newsbusters.com. They have a good point. After all of the pandering, and lack of media criticism, why wouldn't they help BO sell out the American flag? He already made his own version of the Presidential Seal. Maybe that is what it will take to get him to show the Stars and Stripes any due respect. May it never be. As a vet, I must say that if this starts to get under way, we will not let it happen.

Ever.

By the way, News Busters has become my favorite source of news lately. They show you the Left-wing bias in the media like I've never seen it before. They do an excellent job of pointing this stuff out, and deserve more than what ever they are getting.

Just what has he accomplished?

2009-10-04T22:36:00.005-04:00

I can't take any credit for compiling the list, and I'm not familiar with Dark Matters Radio (which is where I found it). Having said that, this is awesome. If only the rest of America would wake up and smell the truth...

How does Obama define "hope" and "change?" Since he has been in office, he has already:

1. Offended the Queen of England.
2. Bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia.
3. Praised the Marxist Daniel Ortega.
4. Kissed Socialist Hugo Chavez on the cheek.
5. Endorsed the Socialist Evo Morales of Bolivia.
6. Sided with Hugo Chavez and Communist Fidel Castro against
Honduras.
7. Announced we would meet with Iranians with no
pre-conditions while they’re building their nuclear weapons.
8. Gave away billions to AIG also without pre-conditions.
9. Expanded the bailouts.
10. Insulted everyone who has ever loved a Special Olympian.
11. Doubled our national debt.
12. Announced the termination of our new missile defense system
the day after North Korea launched an ICBM.
13. Released information on U.S. intelligence gathering despite
urgings of his own CIA director and the prior four CIA directors.
14. Accepted without comment that five of his cabinet members
cheated on their taxes and two other nominees withdrew after they
couldn’t take the heat.
15. Appointed a Homeland Security Chief who identified military
veterans and abortion opponents as “dangers to the nation.”
16. Ordered that the word “terrorism” no longer be used and
instead refers to such acts as “man made disasters.”
17. Circled the globe to publicly apologize for America’s world
leadership.
18. Told the Mexican president that the violence in their
country was because of us.
19. Politicized the census by moving it into the White House
from the Department of Commerce.
20. Appointed as Attorney General the man who orchestrated the
forced removal and expulsion to Cuba of a 9-year-old whose mother died
trying to bring him to freedom in the United States.
21. Salutes as heroes three Navy SEALS who took down three
terrorists who threatened one American life and the next day announces
members of the Bush administration may stand trial for “torturing” three
9/11 terrorists by pouring water up their noses.
22. Low altitude photo shoot of Air Force One over New York
City that frightened thousands of New Yorkers.
23. Sent his National Defense Adviser to Europe to assure them
that the US will no longer treat Israel in a special manner and they
might be on their own with the Muslims.
24. Praised Jimmy Carter’s trip to Gaza where he sided with
terrorist Hamas against Israel.
25. Nationalized General Motors and Chrysler while turning
shareholder control over to the unions and freezing out retired
investors who owned their bonds. Committed unlimited taxpayer billions
in the process.
26. Passed a huge energy tax in the House that will make
American industry even less competitive while costing homeowners
thousands per year.
27. Announced nationalized health care “reform” that will strip
seniors of their Medicare, cut pay of physicians, increase taxes yet
another $1 trillion, and put everyone on rationed care with government
bureaucrats deciding who gets care and who doesn’t.

Bloomberg: Daschle says, “Health care reform will not be pain
free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with
age instead of treating them,” while former Colorado Governor Dick Lamm
says seniors have “a duty to die.”

Sukkot is Finally Here! ... And The Neighbors Think We Are Nuts.

2009-10-02T18:24:00.007-04:00

Sukkot is here, and I am pretty excited about it. I can't remember if this is our 4th or 5th year celebrating it, but each year I learn more about the significance of this prophetic moedim (click the link for a great essay on God's moedim by Tim Hegg).
I can't blog about the journey of a "Christian-gone-Messianic / Hebrew Roots" without mentioning the feeling you get when you build your first real sukkah.
It is an incredible experience knowing that God's people all over the world are building similar temporary dwellings. It is also a little awkward when you live in a small town, like we do.
There are no Jewish people living living here - at least I haven't seen any other Sukkah's in the neighborhood. I have to tell the neighbors that it's "only temporary."

I know that this is short, and not very informative, but I have to get ready for Sabbath dinner (which we will be eating outside), and there is a lot of work to do before the sun goes down.
Sukkkoth lasts for a whole week, so I will go into details of what it is and how we have grown in our observance of it. Keep checking back for more in depth coverage of "Sukkot 2009!" In the meantime, I will leave you with some pictures of our Sukkah...

Sabbath dinner will be eaten out here tonight
looking up through the branches

Our "front door" for the week!

We're Getting Big.

2009-09-28T23:05:00.000-04:00

Rhett and Link to the Rescue!

2009-09-27T01:48:00.006-04:00

These guys continue to make me laugh until I cry.

When the foundations are gone.

2009-09-15T16:33:00.005-04:00

Can't say it any better than this; but I can add to it.

This whole "race" thing bothers me.
It seems to me that when a person is attacked for his / her political views or intentions, it is just that - because of their political views or intentions. I have no tolerance for Oprah, but I am neither a racist or chauvinist . I don't care for Billy Crystal - does that make me antisemitic?
Of course not. I'm a white guy who observes Sabbath for crying out loud!

Just today, the House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) set some new rules for speech in the House. Read this and tell me if we are not watching our foundations crumble, and slipping into a Totalitarian state:

From now on, members of the house can not

• call the President a “liar.”
• call the President a “hypocrite.”
• describe the President’s veto of a bill as “cowardly.”
• charge that the President has been “intellectually dishonest.”
• refer to the President as “giving aid and comfort to the enemy.”
• refer to alleged “sexual misconduct on the President’s part.”

Here's my question; what if the president is a lying hypocrite who is intellectually dishonest, actively giving aid to the enemy (all of them), and shown through his

actions that he is nothing more than a coward?
Only a coward and his henchmen would go through the trouble of making it illegal to speak the truth. And the truth is that he is a liar. The bill shows where he is a liar - I am not saying it because I am a racist, but because it is fact.

What do we do now? David asked in Psalm 11:3, "When the foundations are gone, what shall the righteous do?"
This scripture has intrigued me for a long time, and it has never seemed more timely. It used to bother me that David never answers the question. I mean, what do we do? We see it happening all around us, the "foundations" are being destroyed right before our eyes.
I see now that David did answer the question. He answered it in the very next verse:

The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven;

It all depends on where your foundation is. Like the old hymn says, "...my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness..."
We are not of this world. Our foundation is not of this world. Though we may be citizens of the United States of America, we hold a greater citizenship, to a Greater Kingdom. His Kingdom can not be thwarted by idiotic lies and rules that are intended to silence the Truth.
His Kingdom is untouched by all of this.

So, "when the foundations are gone, what shall the righteous do?"
We will continue to stand on a firm foundation.
When the foundations are gone, we will thank our Master for welcoming us into His Kingdom.
When the foundations are gone, we will act like we belong to His Kingdom.
When the foundations are gone, we will show the world around us that we are not standing on the same foundation that they are.
When the foundations are gone, we will reach out to save those who are losing their grip on the only foundation they know, which is being destroyed.
When the foundations are gone, we will rejoice in the LORD for allowing us to live in such a time as this.
When the foundations are gone, we will look to His word with hope and read,
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
When the foundations are gone, we will be prepared, because it means that He will be returning soon.

My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' Name.

CHORUS:
On Christ the solid  rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Snails Blood and Tassles? Clams and Heaven's Gates?

2009-09-08T22:12:00.005-04:00

In a previous post titled "Go Tallit on the Mountain," I mentioned that I was going to get some tallit katan (shown right) and they finally showed up! I ordered them from Jerusalem, and the tzitzits are hand tied, solid white. The type that I ordered are certified kosher (yes, kosher covers more than just food), and I will be ordering the blue thread soon.
I have mentioned the "particular color of blue" before, and mentioned that I would write more on that later, so here you go...

The scriptures tell us to include a "blue" thread in the fringes that are to be tied on to the four corners of our garments. I say "blue" because the word for "blue" in Hebrew is Tekhelet. This sounds simple enough, but it turns out that for many centuries, the Jewish people have been unable to find the exact type of blue. Instead of just taking any old blue (which is what I have been doing for the past four years), many Jews prefer not to use any blue thread at all, for fear of having the wrong one.

In the Talmud (sort of like a huge commentary on the Old Testament, written by Jewish sages from long ago), the instructions are given for making this special blue, and as it turns out, it is more difficult than those of us in the West would think.

It all starts with a tiny snail that lives in the Mediterranean Sea called a "chilazon." This tiny shellfish's blood is used for the die. Now, before I go any further, this will sound strange to those of you who know Torah; all shellfish are unclean - an abomination to God's people. Isn't that a little peculuare? To me, it is as odd as the "Pearly Gates." After all, the pearl is an irritation to the abomination we call a clam, right? Strange.
At any rate, the Talmud didn't have photos, and the identity of the "chilazon" was lost. Evidently, they have found it and are making it again, which is good for us, but leaves one to question the Kabulistic writings that tell us "the chilazon will not reemerge until the coming of the Messiah."
...but I have no problems questioning Kabulistic writings. For the time being, the blue blood of the chilazon is good enough for me.

See what I mean? That's a lot of information to sort through! It is awesome to know that our God is who He is. I know that His grace is sufficiant for me - and because of that, I want to obey Him with all of my heart.

I'lll try the new blue, when I get the extra money - in the mean time, I forgot to tell you how much I prefer the tallit katan over the "belt-loop-tzis." I know that that is the right way for me to fulfill this Commandment.

Now, should I start wearing a head covering all the time? I have some study material that claims just that, and it is getting harder and harder to deny it's validity - I may be donning a kippa in the future; but for now, I'm going to keep searching it out in God's Word.

(I used chabad.org for this article)

Hitler Smells Like Teen Spirit... Or Something.

2009-09-08T21:51:00.004-04:00

So...
I finally get a comment from the latest post (thank goodness I don't wait for all of them to have comments before posting the next), and it is in Russian!
Now, before you get as excited as I did, relax - I think it is spam. At least I hope it is spam because if it isn't, "Google Translate" needs some tweakin'.
Here is what it says in [broken] English:

From the pleasures of the most pleasant ones that are most rare. Most, the best perfume in small vials. Throw yourself your case with all my heart and soul, but look especially good if this case. Reasonable chasing so it is good, but for the fact that eliminates otnepriyatnostey. All Russia is drinking Hamlet.

If that made sense to you CC, let me know - I can't figure out the connection to Hitler's speech and perfume.

..............................................................

History is repeating itself.

2009-09-02T22:44:00.004-04:00

"This year will go down in history. For the first time,
a civilized nation has full gun registration!
Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient,
and the world will follow our lead into the future!"

so, who said it?

Nancy Pelosi?

Jimmy Carter?

Hillary Clinton?

Barack Obama?

Wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong again. Though this seems like the ramblings of today's Liberal "luminaries," they can't take the credit for such a statement - though they would like more than anything to be the ones who make it happen.

It was Adolf Hitler, 1935.

Public Service Message from a confirmed Right-Wing Terrorist

2009-09-01T16:41:00.005-04:00

This bit of Orwellian rhetoric was on the Mybarackobama.com Community Organizer website... until they realized that those of us on the Right have computers too. Just think - if they have their way, Barack will someday be in total control of the internet, and they won't have to hide who they really are.
(Excerpt from NewsBusters.com)
Our US Senators return to DC the Tues after Labor Day. That next FRIDAY, Sep 11, is Patriot Day, designated in memory of the nearly three thousand who died in the 9/11 attacks.

All 50 States are coordinating in this – as we fight back against our own Right-Wing Domestic Terrorists who are subverting the American Democratic Process, whipped to a frenzy by their Fox Propaganda Network ceaselessly re-seizing power for their treacherous leaders.
...............................................................................
As they said on NB, so much for "bringing the country together" and being a "centrist." In the end, those of us who value Constitutional rights that many of our Forefathers died for are the enemy.
Hope!
Change!
Marxist Revolution!
One more thing.
Before any of you liberal, Left-Wing, communist loving, nut-jobs add me to another list, take a few minutes contemplate the fact that your leader has already put me on one for being a Veteran, a Conservative blogger, a Christian, and a believer in the founding principles laid out in the Constitution.

New Podcast from the James Study!

2009-08-30T00:12:00.005-04:00

I just uploaded the latest podcast from the James study, titled "Count it all Joy?" James 1:1-16.
This is my first time teaching a book for the church - unless you count Teen Bible studies.
This is turning into a great experience, if I can safely say that after only two weeks. I haven't been nervous, and I have learned a lot.
Lord willing, the rest of the study will continue to get better - I have had a time trying to get my thoughts to flow from the inside of my head to the out... but that is not anything new to teaching.

James Ate Kosher.

2009-08-26T22:31:00.004-04:00

...just wanted to make a quick update to remind Mo that I am teaching the book of James each Saturday at the Carpenter's Shop, and you can listen online, or download them here.

I had no idea that James was such a controversial guy. Evidently, few commentators of the Reformation believed that it was Jesus' brother who wrote the book, and just as many didn't want to include it into the canon of scripture. For the record, James ate food that was kosher. He was a Jew, raised in a Jewish home, in a Jewish community... and his older half brother was, well, God incarnate, so it is a safe assumption.

I still need to finish my thoughts on eating kosher, don't I?

Where does my family stand on this today? Thought you would never ask.
We buy foods that have a hechscher. It has to have the symbol - even if it is canned fruit, it has to be hechschered. We don't eat out often because of the expense of it, but when we do, we know which fast food places have kosher food, and which don't - we have to do a little research to find out, but it is worth it.
In the end, there is no guarantee that the food we get has no unclean things in it... unless it has the symbol - and even that sometimes is a little sketchy. Certain organizations are more strict than others. We typically stick with the most recognizable; there are literally hundreds of symbols, the "Circle U" being the most prominent around here (on right).
But what about meat? Meat is somewhat of an anomaly when eating kosher, as it has its own set of rules, and there are specific methods that make it kosher. As for now we still eat meat bought from the store, but that is subject to change. We are starting to lean more toward eating fish as our only meat - less to worry about.
I should note that none of this is hard. In fact, once you start looking at what is in the food we all eat, it is a little shocking at first and you will feel compelled to keep looking. This leads me to my next surprise in the drive to eat kosher:
NATURAL FLAVORS
...just what are "natural flavors?" Good question.
Here's the definition of “natural flavor” under the Code of Federal Regulations: “the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional” (21CFR101.22)

Most disturbing find yet:
Did you know that L-cysteine, a common dough conditioner, flavor enhancer in human and pet foods, and precursor in some dietary supplements, is most often derived from human hair or duck feathers, and to a lesser extent from pigs' bristles and hooves? (from www.vrg.org)

Yes, human hair.

I'lll leave you with that for now. I still need to revisit the meat issue in greater detail, but I want to move on to the kippa (head covering) next, as it has been on my mind a lot lately...

Um... You Gonna Eat That?

2009-08-06T16:39:00.007-04:00

Speaking of "fishy" information on Obama's ~~Marxist revolution~~ health care debacle, it is time for me to lead you through my ever-changing thoughts on eating kosher.

"What is kosher," you ask?
Good question! Grab ten random people and ask them what kosher is... you're likely to end up with fifteen answers. Heck, I might give you two or three answers myself.

Lets go back to the beginning. We'll start at "The Beginning" and then move on to my own personal Torah observance beginnings.

Genesis 2:15 states that ...the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

I am starting with this passage because I believe it is important to notice that God has been interested in and giving instructions to mankind about the food we eat since... well, since the beginning. It must be important to Him. When He instructs us not to eat something, then the instruction is, well, the Law. That's what kosher is - it is conforming to God's dietary laws, or instructions. Biblicalholidays.com puts it like this:

Biblical kosher refers to the dietary laws as outlined in the Scriptures, forbidding the eating of (1) animals that God calls unclean (Lev. 11:47), (2) animal fat (Lev. 3:17), or (3) animals that still have the blood in them (Lev. 17:12-14) as food. Lev. 11 talks about clean and unclean foods.

When my family began to observe the food laws in Leviticus 11, we began by simply refraining from pork and shellfish. It seemed like a huge step too - all the sudden we were aware of how much of our food fell into the 'abomination' category. What we didn't know at the time was that the battle to eat food that was 'kosher' according to God's word was bigger than we could ever have imagined.

At first, we would occasionally hear about a favorite food that had pork in it, or a candy that contained gelatin. As we continued to be more sensitive to what was in the food, we became more and more aware of teh fact that pork is in ... well, almost everything that we were eating at the time.

Our conversations went like this; We had the best time with the kids last night. We ate Smores around the camp fire -"
"You know marshmallows aren't kosher, right? - they have gelatin in them."
"What!? Marshmallows have pork in them?" As I am reeling from the disturbing news of pig fat hiding in my desert, I pop an Altoid mint...
"So do those."
To which I reply, "ha ha, that's funny - as if you didn't already ruin camping for the rest of my life, now my mints actually have pork in them too? What ever..."

And so the story goes. We had heard about the "kosher" labels (on left) but had not given them any real thought - after all, I had no reason to eat food that had been blessed by a rabbi, right?
What we soon learned though, was that the blessing was not what the kosher label was all about. The label was a sense of security for the buyer, telling him/her that the food they were purchasing has been watched over by a person with strict standards according to Leviticus 11.
Somebody who cares about God's Law was in charge of giving the food a seal of approval, called a hechscher.

...more later - I have to get something to eat.

Go 'Tallit' on the Mountain!

2009-08-04T15:54:00.020-04:00

I mentioned earlier that I am sort of struggling with the tzitzit issue. For those of you who are not familiar with tzitzits, here is what I have been able to pick up along the way...

"What are tzizits?"

Tzitzits are tassels that are worn on the four "corners" of a believer's garments, as referred to in Deuteronomy 22:12 “You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself."

(Disclaimer: I have gone into great detail in the past regarding why I believe that we, as God's people, and believers in Yeshua (Jesus) are obligated today to observe the Torah commands, so I will not go over that again. From here on, I will address these issues from that standpoint.)

Back to the tassels.
When we first started to observe Torah, I wasn't sure if we were to be wearing tzitzit at all. I hadn't ever seen anybody wear them, including other Messianic believers. At any rate, after a while, I began to feel conviction for not wearing these things. A friend of mine had started wearing a set that he had made himself, attached to his belt loops, which seemed like a good place to start (I guess I hadn't given as much thought to how they should be worn).
The tassels that my friend had made were blue and white. Evidently, there was a reference to a blue string going through the tassel (Numbers 15:37-40), so he had put a blue thread through his - I did the same. The ones that I was wearing looked similar to these:

I wore these for about two years. Somewhere along the line, I asked a friend who had been observing Torah for quite a long time why he didn't wear Tzitzit, and his answer threw a wrench into my way of thinking. He explained to me that he did wear tassels, only they were tucked into his pants under his shirt. He told me that he wears a garment called a tallit katan. He went on to say that a tallit katan means "small" tallit; it looks like this:Notice the tzitzits - they are literally attached to four "corners" sewn into the garment, taking a very literal interpretation of the passage listed above in Numbers. I am writing these things in an attempt to journal the conflicts, struggles and joys of transitioning into Torah observance, and this "four corner" issue is somewhat of a struggle for me. The term shows up a few times in scripture (Isaiah 11:12, Revelation 7:1), and for the life of me I have a hard time seeing it anything less than metiphorical. With a little study, I found that the Hebrew word that translates into 'four corners' is kanaph which typically means "extremities."
...I continued to wear my belt loop tassels.

If tallit katan meant small tallit, then surely there was a big tallit right?
It turns out that a tallit is the traditional white shawl, usually having blue stripes. I had seen many Jewish people in photographs wearing it, I always knew it to be a "prayer shawl."

It looks like this: (No, that is not me in the photo.)

Again, notice the blue cord. The one above has the blue in them. These don't:
There is much debate concerning the blue cord, which only compiles my struggles with this issue. (There is a specific blue that is required according to some - more on that at a later time)
The tallit has its own set of conflicting opinions that go with it as well. Typically, it is worn during morning prayers, thus fulfilling the command to wear the tassels. A tallit katan is worn through out the day, and it is a matter of opinion as to weather the tassels should be tucked in or not.
As for belt loop tassels... they aren't really acceptable in most Messianic or Orthodox circles; just my luck.
I find myself thinking, should it be this hard? Blue or no blue, this blue or that blue, big tallit or small tallit, tucked in or on the belt loops? I have to tell you, I still don't know.
BUT...
I will tell you what I do know. I do know that the God of Israel; the Everlasting Father; the Prince of Peace; Omnipotent One; Aleph and Tav... He knows exactly what I know, and He knows exactly what I am trying to do. He knows my heart! He knows that I was born and raised in small town Indiana, light years from the nearest Orthodox Jew - in fact, He knows that I am not Jewish by blood at all - He is aware of my being grafted into Israel and what that means; and I have a feeling that He knows that it will take time for me to learn how to walk out the instruction given in His Torah. It reminds me of Paul's letter to the Phillipians (ch 1:6), where he says, "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Talk about scripture having a whole new meaning...

So, where do I stand on the tzitzit issue today? Good question. If you can figure it out, drop me an email, and we'll both be on the same page! My feelings on tassels are in the process of being overhauled. I still wear the belt loop version, but I don't put them on until I have gotten out of the shower after work. This is partly due to the fact that I don't own any tallit katan, or a prayer shawl (tallit) at the moment.
I think that I will get both. I also think that when I get the tallit katan, I will use tassels with the blue cord (even if it isn't that specific blue... for now) and will probably wear them on the outside of my clothing. Yep, that's it. I will wear the tallit katan under my shirt with the blue corded tassels hanging out. When I get them that is.
In the meantime, I will rest in the fact that this walk is a transitional thing, and my salvation does not rest on my meathod; it rests in the finished work of Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiac.

Though this topic is by no means finished, I have brought you up to speed with where I am. I'll keep you posted as I grow in this issue.
Stay with me as we explore the ever confusing relm of eating kosher next!

Messianididdles? Mishnadiddles? Beit Mang?

2009-08-04T10:55:00.011-04:00

I have been away from Mangdiddles for a while, but suddenly, I am finding myself with a little [unwanted] extra time to blog, so I want to make it worth while... now, what do I blog about?
The news is, well, old news. Obama is destroying our country at an alarming rate, and frankly I can't keep up with it. Society as a whole seems to have lost control. I actually read a story in the news the other day about a pregnant woman who was killed, and her baby was stolen from the womb.
...fortunately, the baby lived - unlike a story earlier in the week where a pregnant woman was murdered and her killer ate her brains. Now, granted, the brains were eaten after the lady was deceased, but still... I digress.
How can one small time blogger keep up with news like that? Why would I want to?

I have made attempts in the past to stick with bible study, and things of a more Spiritual nature, but I always end up being drawn into the current events arena. For this I apologize. I also will submit an excuse of sorts.

In the realm of Messianic Torah study, I have in the past been a little intimidated by the enormity of it all. It always feels like the other people writing about Messianic things has a much better grasp on Torah observance, study and history. There is so much information and so many conflicting opinions on matters of the Torah, that it makes for a very daunting task sometimes even to do personal studies.

And that leads me to the new direction that I will be taking Mangdiddles.com. See, even though I have been observing Torah as a believer in Yeshua (Jesus) for over five years, I still feel like a "new guy." How can this be, you may ask? Because of the reasons I just listed above - it is an enormous wealth of history, resources and opinions - heavy on the opinions. I intend to write about my findings, as a "new guy" in the Messianic world. The subject matter will never run out, I am confident of that.

I have no intentions of renaming the blog to Messianadiddles, or completely leaving current events by the wayside - on the contrary, I intend to incorporate them into the conversation... now all I have to do is stay focused.
I am calling on all three of you - my most faithful readers, to keep me accountable to this. From here on out, I will change the tone of Mangdiddles to that of a respectable, Messiah focused forum. God willing.

Topics anyone?

I believe that the majority of the people who stop by here are usually either angry for what I have to say about the Left, or curious about things like biblical dietary laws and Sabbath observance.
With the former, there are a lot of inner struggles that take place along the way - what do we do? What do we not do? Can I eat that? Do I want to eat that? What does that have to do with Jesus?
...did you say no more bacon!?
And the list goes on.

My current struggles (and I say that in the most positive way, like "should I have apple pie or caramel cheese cake?") include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Should I be wearing a yarmulke? (that tiny circular cap that you see Jewish people wearing)
2. Tzitzit - I was once OK with the belt-loop version, but have veered away from it... only I don't have a tallit katan. Do I want to do the tallit katan, or get a regular tallit? ...I will explain what these things are when I present the question - it is confusing.
3. Set Time Prayers - We are doing them as a family, but I keep missing the second one. On top of that, I am told that there are actually three set times. More on that later.
4. Hebrew - To learn, or not to learn. That is the question!
5. Tradition! - How much is too much... how much is enough?

And this is just a start.
I will get started as soon as this storm stops knocking the power out. It is getting nasty outside.

The Joke Is On U.S.

2009-08-03T22:59:00.004-04:00

...Descension really is the New Patriotism, isn't it?

The Original Homeland Security

2009-08-02T14:17:00.007-04:00

I received this in my email today, and providing it is not a hoax, USA Today has a poll that asks,
"Does the Second Amendment give individuals the right to bear arms?"
(PLEASE, click above top take part in the survey - your freedoms depend on it!!)

Before I give the results so far for the poll, lets look at what the Second Amendment actually says.
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Seems to me that the framers of the Constitution were saying that we have the right to:

Have a "well regulated militia" that is necessary to the security of a free state
Keep and bear arms

Notice that it is the right of the people to keep and bear arms, not just the militia as the Left portrays it. The intent of the amendment is stated clearly - it is necessary to keep the security of a free state.
Why would any government want to suppress that right to have a well regulated militia and the right to bear arms? The answer is simple: to take away our freedoms. Hence the language in the amendment.
We are so messed up in America today that we are willing to give up the very rights that allow us to be free!

Oh yeah, I still need to post the results as of today.

It is too bad that the ~~Democratic Party~~ Left has no regard for the Constitution or those of us who do, because it looks like the American people understand very clearly what the Second Amendment means.

Communists for Clunkers... or something

2009-08-02T13:24:00.004-04:00

Jaw dropper of the year.

“A warning box comes up, and it says, ‘This application provides to the DoT CARS system. When logged on to the CARS system, your computer is considered a federal computer system and it is property of the United States government,’” Beck continues, “‘Any and all uses of this system and all files on this system may be intercepted, monitored, recorded, copied, audited, inspected, and disclosed to authorized CARS, DoT and law enforcement personnel, as well as authorized officials of other agencies, both domestic and foreign.’”

Sort of reminds me of the old adage that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Yet the nation remains silent, and Beck is still the bad guy. No outrage, no rallies, no protests. Bush was raked over the coals for wanting to listen in to terrorist's phone conversations... just keep that in mind.

Time is getting short.

2009-07-09T16:27:00.004-04:00

*uh-hem*

...**cough**...

...uh... (tap tap tap)

Is this thing on?

I am going to wipe away some cobwebs around here, and try to get this thing started back up.
Time is the enemy.
The world has gone crazy.
Iran is in revolt... and we're not helping them.
North Korea is threatening to nuke Hawaii... and we stand by blowing them kisses.
Russia is waking up from a false slumber, poised and ready to fight... and we are sending them love letters and kissing their hands.
The Democrats are in total control... and the Republicans are too whipped by the retirement benefits of "Public Servants" to stand up for anything.
America is now a socialist nation... and Michael Jackson is the top story - for 12 days and counting.

...but God is still on the throne, and His Son is closer than ever to coming back.
I better start blogging again.

Talk amongst yourselves...
Here's a topic:

Why did God Give the Torah in the first place?

I'll be back shortly.

A Comic is Worth a Thousand Words...

2009-05-17T00:05:00.009-04:00

(Click for larger view)

My Arm is Asleep.

2009-02-17T22:42:00.008-05:00

I have found myself in a number of conversations lately dealing with the "coming together" of the body of Christ.
What's that? You were unaware of it's being dismembered? Well, then you are in for a good read. Try to allow me some grace, and take what I write with a grain of salt... kosher salt (tongue in cheek), and everything will be fine.

I know of more than a few leaders in the church that are feeling an impression by the Holy Spirit to reach out to their Christian counterparts. I have felt the same pull, and have admittedly fought it a little because, well, I am a tad cynical. I don't embrace cynicism, by any means, but rather find myself with a grim outlook without even trying. I have my reasons; most of which can not be justified, so I will not even try. Lets just say that my cynicism has become the newest obstacle that our Lord is making me aware of, and it is difficult at times.
At any rate, back to the topic at hand.
There is a definite awakening of sorts happening within the church. The call is to become one with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Brothers and sisters in Christ who do not believe the same way you, or I do. It is all-encompassing. Baptists are being called to befriend those who believe their salvation is hanging by a thread. Methodists are being called to walk beside Charismatics who despise the thought of a method, let alone a written down method. Presbyterians are being prompted to hold spiritual hands with the Four Square folks, and Messianics... well, Messianics are being called to get along with all of the above.
As it stands, the Body of our Messiah has one hand that depends on a creed being chanted at every service, another hand that refuses to eat pork, and an ear lobe that refuses be touched by either until they put nicer clothes on.
We are hundreds of detached body parts, claiming the same head.
The Head is calling His members to begin to realize that that the same blood runs through all of the parts.
That is the key issue in the struggle - the blood.
It is the blood of our Messiah that must bind us together. Like it or not, it already does; now it is up to us to merely recognize it, and act on it. We have no choice if we are to serve our Master as one. After all, it is His blood, so it is His call. His body, and He is calling us to act like a body that is not torn apart. Paul said this in Ephesians 4:46: One body, one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; One God and Father of all.
Our problem is becoming very clear as I look at it through my ever-cynical eyes. I believe the problem lies mostly in maturity. How mature are we? Look at the statistics of divorce, bribery, pornography, adultery, the list goes on and on - look at how we deal with those issues, and it is easy to see that Christ's body smacks of immaturity.
Your marriage getting tough? Bail out - just like any teenager would. Need that money so bad that you are wiling to cheat on your taxes? No problem - cheat; every immature player on the field is willing to do so.
Have you heard about the church down the road? They are actually meeting on Saturday! Hmmmm, what is the most immature thing a person could do to rebut such a thing? Spread gossip and rumors, like any adolescent would, of course.
We have been fed a way of life through the media that allows for grown men to act like they are seventeen years old for their entire lives. We are taught to steer clear of any form of commitment unless it is to your cell phone provider - and even that contract is never read.
We are, most of us, grown men and women, yet we behave like children. Spoiled, undisciplined children, but children none the less. Unfortunately, our own children are growing up in this environment thinking it is normal… and the cycle continues when they grow up.

If my suspicions are correct, I think that our Head is beginning to wake His body up. We are all sort of like body parts that have fallen asleep, all numb, cold and motionless. To carry the analogy further, I think that the urge to become one, at the moment, is sort of like the arm that is asleep, and when it begins to have the blood flowing through it again it feels crazy tingly sensations – at first. When it really starts to get the blood flowing, there is a certain prickly, pins and needles sort of pain that arrives (I don’t think we are there yet), then, depending on how long the appendage has been asleep, there is an aching that sets in before the warm relief of full awakening.

We are starting to wake up. Our Master’s blood is beginning to arouse our senses. We have a couple of options at this stage. First, we could refuse to allow that blood to revive us. To see a good example of how this turns out, just wrap a tight rubber band around your cat’s tail and leave it. Give it about three weeks, and when you are using tongs to pick up a dead cat tail off of your kitchen floor, go back and read this again.

The second option is to help it out. Oneness can be encouraged just like the blood flowing into an arm that has fallen asleep. All you have to do is shake it up a little – move it around! Exercise those joints, and welcome the blood back in.

Do not read too deeply into this analogy – I am not implying that we are lacking the blood of Christ, or His presence in our lives. I am only saying that we have allowed just enough of it to sustain life; cold, sleepy, isolated life. Having said that, I am also not saying that we should walk hand in hand with sin. Sin is sin, and it has no place in this equation. We must not become one with that which is in blatant opposition to the Head of this body. If you are relying on “lost books of the bible” or special glasses of any sort for your salvation, then you have bigger problems than these (more on that at a later time).

The mature thing to do of course is to deal with the discomfort that is so amplified at the start, and keep pressing through. We really are one, like it or not. A child that is afraid of needles would just as soon die of Small Pox then to get the necessary shot to protect him from the disease. An adult knows that he must suffer a short-lived pain in order to be healthy. Our short lived pain is nothing more than treating each other like members of the same body, just like Paul told us to. And if you think about it, the pain is nothing more than our own immaturity having His light shone one it. It will only hurt for a moment, I’m sure. But like I was saying, sometimes that is what it takes in order to be healed…

The Flame of Freedom

2009-02-16T23:39:00.006-05:00

As I write this, our newly elected president is on vacation after proclaiming that there would be "catastrophic consequences" for not signing the hastily formed "stimulus bill." Not only is he on vacation, but he is putting off the signing of the bill that was so important three days ago. How can that be? What are we to make of the things he told us leading up to the passing of such an anti-American, Socialistic stack of pig dung? What has become of it's importance? Why does he sit back in Chicago with his wife, on vacation, while the country is on the brink of implosion; knowingly leaving the bill unsigned?

The answer is simple; he knows, just as every thinking American knows, that there is no urgency in signing the bill. The bill has nothing to do with "stimulating" our economy. The bill is merely another desecration of the rights and tenants laid out in the Constitution of the United States, authored by nothing more than self seeking, base men with their own political gain in mind.

We, as a people have become so detached from what we once were, that the average American no longer feels the need to ask questions or demand answers from our appointed leaders. Those who were once representatives of the people have become the very form of government that drove us to separation from Brittan in the first place.

Once a people who would give our lives to secure freedom and liberty for generations yet to come, we have become a people willing to give up what we hold dear for that which looks and feels good now, never taking into consideration the consequences or repercussions imposed on even our own children.

We are living in a time where not only is good called evil and evil called good, but good is sought to be extinguished. The very rights that were paid for by the blood of our country's forefathers are being used to destroy the foundations on which they were built. The average American man has opted out of his responsibilities to his country, and his fellow man - each man his own country, all united under tyrants. Our leaders have taken on a superiority that was loathed by those who wrote the very Constitution they are sworn to uphold. Our Independence has been stolen and in a slow, and deliberate trade of hands, squashed - with our approval. We are at a time in our nations history where Independence must be reclaimed; this time from our own elected leaders. This time, from an evil and self seeking generation of anti-American sentiment. A disease that is perpetrated under the guise of a freedom that is given only by the United States . Free speech that is exclusive to America, yet is being used to corrode her foundations from within.

And we remain silent.

The government of yesterday warned us of the growing government of today. We were warned to keep it in check - to be watchful, lest the present condition become a reality. And still we remain silent, as it overshadows the decisions and rights of free men.

Be it pseudo-freedom or Socialism, communism or slavery, the want and need for freedom in a human being's life will remain subdued until he begins to lack it. And that lack of what we all know to be endowed by our Creator will then and only then ignite a spark of revolution. How much has to be taken away before man senses the strangling hold of complacency? How much do we have to forfeit before we realize that without liberty and justice there is no such thing as the happiness that we pursue? What do we need in today's American Man to rekindle the spark of freedom's flame? And what cost are we willing to pay for appeasement? Is life worth living when the very liberty we enjoy is ripped from the hands of our children, simply because we were not honorable enough to stand for what is right?

The next revolution in this God-blessed country that we so enjoy will either be the honor of the righteous who are willing to sacrifice what ever is necessary to see it's birth, or the snarling delight of our enemy who has overtaken us without a fight.

Our forefathers saw the times in which we find ourselves the most frightening and horrific possibility; we mock their advice and wisdom, and happily slide the rope over our own heads -gladly handing what is rightfully ours over on a silver platter; a platter that we purchased, to leaders whom we elected.

...to be continued.

Grace, Legalism, Dog's Tails and Sin in the Church

2009-02-14T23:18:00.006-05:00

We have noticed a strange anomaly on The Word is Grace's podcast. Every title that contains the word “grace” or “Luke Skywalker” just seems to explode with downloads. The Luke Skywalker thing I can understand... but grace? What is the big deal about grace?
I have an idea. I think that something has gone seriously wrong with the idea of "grace" in the "church" today. We all know we need it, and we all know that God gives it… but do we really know what it is? Are we possibly seeking answers about grace because we have misused it, and the results of that misuse are overwhelmingly apparent and inescapable? Have the very things that we sought grace for come back to make our lives miserable? I would like to say that if you are misusing it… they will.

God will not be mocked, the scriptures say.

Grace is a strange concept to us; people throw everything from lies to adultery under its covering, and yet most have no concept of what it is. I am afraid that most people think that it is as if God were brushing the bad deed under the rug – no questions asked, no consequences paid. After all, He paid for all of that on the cross, didn’t He?

A friend of mine wrote a song that gives an excellent definition of grace: “It means unmerited favor… It’s getting what I don’t deserve because the father gave the Son.”

Unfortunately, the word grace has taken a dive, and now seems to mean, “what ever I do that is wrong is forgotten about… because Jesus died for it. It’s all under the blood, so don’t beat yourself up about it! Be who you are - He made you that way.” This is sort of true; He did die for our sins. He paid the ultimate price, so we would not have to. But is that what He intended for us to use His Grace for? So we could continue in sin because that is "who we are?" Here's a news flash: we are all "born that way." Every one of us is born into a life of sin. We are born that way - sinners. Isn't that why He gave us the gift of grace in the first place, for a way out?

Read this carefully: He intends for us to STOP doing the things that require grace because He died for those sins. Grace was never intended to be an excuse to do the very things that Jesus died for. We have cheapened grace in the church today – watered it down so much that now it is the word used to justify sinful behavior. Ouch! What was that awful sting!? How can a person in 2009 write the words “sinful behavior” with any seriousness? Do I really mean that? Who am I to say that any person has sinful behavior?

That is exactly my point.

That notion of “who does he think he is, or nobody can judge me” Has been fed to us on a silver platter for that last few decades, and we have become so “liberated” that any mention of sin or sinful behavior causes uproar. We have allowed so many horrific things to happen in the church that there is today no identifiable difference between the world and the body of Christ. No outrage, and certainly no relevant opposition. The very grace that was meant to save us has been twisted and contorted to such a degree that it is killing us.

I am not referring to God’s Grace, but rather the meaning we have attached to the word “grace.”

We have got it in our heads that God’s grace is so all-encompassing that it will cover every vice, addiction, perversion and malice that we can come up with. I would like to quote an old pastor friend of mine who once told me that there is a Greek word for that: Hogwash.

Not that His Grace won't cover those things, but that by His Grace, we can overcome those things - not waller in them.

Gods grace is as deep as it is wide; as never-ending as His love, and yet it is as shallow as our own intentions. Are you a Christian who is a thief? Paul said “stop steeling.”

Are you a believer who is a liar? Stop lying. Do you have an anger problem? Get help. Stop it.

God’s grace is big enough for all of our sins, BUT at some point, we as believers must stand up and realize that we are “no longer slaves to sin.” We must not lie down, and be the indigent, pathetic humans that we are, simply because we were born that way. That is unacceptable. We are called to be over comers. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world!

...And this can only be realized by His Grace.

The problem today is that we have chosen to be just like the world, rather than obey the One who is greater than the world. We have chosen to lie down and succumb to every craving because we think that God sweeps it under the rug, because that is who we are. We have turned His grace into a prescription for sin. Got a craving for porn? Call it art and indulge yourself – it is covered by the blood. Got a hankering for pot? Hey, God made it, so it must be OK – it’s covered. Marriage not working? That’s alright, God understands – you have needs, and she ain’t meeting them. Leaving your wife for the dude down the street? Surely God knows that we are living in different times, right? Those laws are for biblical times!

I have news for you: we are living in biblical times.

The great falling away is happening all around us, and it is a direct result of men and women stepping on the grace of God; trampling the very gift He gave us to fulfill their own lusts.

“Grace” that allows sin to dwell openly in the body of Christ is nothing short of an abomination. It is wrong.

God’s Grace of course is a good thing - real grace, that is.

His grace allows us to stand back up and shake off the guilt of a mistake. His Grace allows us to keep coming back to the Throne and ask for forgiveness – even though we don’t deserve it – and walk away knowing that His Grace is greater than the sin that drove us there in the first place.

God’s grace is so beyond measure that even though a brother sins against you 7 x 70 times, you can still draw upon it for the strength to forgive. His grace is so amazing that it is the gift that He gives to the humble, and the gift that enabled the humility of the humble in the first place. His Grace is sufficient for each of us, and it is free. Such a valuable thing, His Grace is… yet it is free! –...To us, that is.

To God however, it cost the life of His only Son.

That makes it the most valuable treasure on earth. How could we ever use it for anything but the catalyst for a closer walk with Him? How could we take that grace, and say that it is alright to kill babies, and have gay preachers? Did Christ die for nothing? Did He become sin so we could sin more?

Abraham Lincoln had a favorite saying, “If we call a dog’s tail a leg, how many legs does it have?” The answer came as a shock to most who heard it; “It matters not what we call the tail – it is still a tail.”

The same goes for sin today. It doesn’t matter what we call pornography, be it art or self expression… it is still pornography. Homosexuality is wrong, whether it is called genetic, or “just how I am.”

Theft is theft even when it is referred to as “massaging the numbers.”

Sinful behavior is still sinful behavior… even if it is accepted by the majority.

I feel a trend movin' in.

2009-01-05T17:48:00.003-05:00

Ban Ann Coulter? Why would any network ban Ann? I'll tell you why: Ann called NBC out on their one sided biasness, their gross negligence in reporting, and their blatant swooning for the Liberal Left.
Now, before you say, "I thought he was done with political blurbs..." let me just say that I have to ween myself off of these things. Especially when the world has gone amuck; to the point of letting the cheating, lying, vulgar, hate-mongering atheistic human called Al Franken win a race that he so clearly cheated his way into. I could win any race as long as I was allowed to find the difference I need in votes in people's car trunks and basements...*spit! spit!*
I am telling you, this is just a taste of things to come - the Left is in power, and before we know it, they will be subsidizing pant suits and copies of the Communist Manifesto. God help us all.
We are going to be bailing out newspapers that nobody reads, and taxing bullets so much that those with guns won't be able to shoot.

I don't do that... it was given to the Jews.

2009-01-04T21:56:00.005-05:00

So, I posed a question on The Carpenter's Shop's group on Facebook the other day, and even though we have 27 members online, there have been no responses; I have yet to find out if it is the question its self, or just that nobody has seen it...

At any rate, here is the question, and I will add my commentary as I go:

Nearly every Christian I know agrees that we, as believers, are part of the "New Covenant" written of in Jeremiah 31:31. The scripture goes like this;

31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,^[a] says the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

The question is this - which tribe are we from, Israel or Judah? The last I checked, neither one of my parents were Jewish, nor were my wife's... so is my family left out of the equation?
I ask this with a hint of tongue in cheek, because I know that I am grafted in. However, it is worth asking just exactly what it is that I am grafted in to. Paul says that we have been grafted into Israel in Ephesians 2 and Romans 11. What does that mean, and why am I bringing it up? Because about three times a week, I am asked questions on why I do certain things, like observing a Saturday Sabbath, or Passover, or eating kosher, and when I tell them that I believe that the 'Old Testament' Law is still valid for believers today, the response is usually, "I thought those things were for the Jews" or "wasn't that given to the Jews?" And occasionally, "you aren't a Jew - why bother?"
There is a hundred pound gorilla sitting in the middle of this question that desperately needs to be addressed!
If we are not to do certain things in scripture because they were 'given to the Jews,' then where and how do we draw the line; because when that logic is followed through, we can not partake of the Covenants, promises, or the blessings that were given to Israel. As a matter of fact, when that logic is carried through, it annuls thae book of James and Hebrews as well. James was written to "the twelve tribes scattered abroad" and Hebrews was written to, well... the Hebrews. Both books were given to the Jews. See my point? To take it further, the entire concept of a Messiah was given to the Jews in a set of Jewish books - a Jewish Messiah who will some day rule and reign from a Jewish king's (David) throne, in the Jewish capitol of Jerusalem! I say all of that to say this; I think that we have grossley missunderstood just exactly what is for the Jews or for the Gentiles. In the Western world, we believe that the Ten Commandments are valid in our lives... except for the one about Sabbath. We believe that all children should honor their parrents, yet we have the nerve to split up one of God's sentences that says
'Every one of you shall reverence his mother and his father, and you shall keep My sabbaths; I am the LORD your God - Lev 19:3

Bear with me here, because this is vital to my point. Notice the words and and My. "And" means just that - and; plus, in addition to, also.
Again, most Christians agree that kids should honor their mother and father; but I ask you this: who has the right to seperate that sentence? What man has the authority to say that one is for Gentiles, and the other for Jews? Are they both not His commandments? This leads me to the word "My."
We have been taught that the Saturday Sabbath commandment was given to the Jews, but look at the scripture, and tell me who's Sabbath it is. Evidently it is His Sabbath. Of course, Yeshua said that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, but who's is it? I believe that it is His Sabbath to give to whomever He seems fit - in this case, it is "man." Notice again, that Jesus never said that the Sabbath was made for the Jew, not the Jew for the Sabbath; He didn't even say that it was made for Israel, but man.

What about the verse that says that there is no longer Jew or Gentile in Christ?
To that, I would like to say, amen! There is no longer Jew or Gentile in Christ! That brings me back into the equatinon that I mentioned earlier - that is comforting, because it allows me back in!
What about that though? Let me make a suggestion...
As I said earlier, we are serving a Jewish Messiah, who will sit on a Jewish throne, in Jerusalem, the Jewish capitol of Israel. We have obtained all of this information from ancient, Jewish books, written in Hebrew. The rest was written in Greek, by Hebrews (there is question as to wether or not Luke was a Gentile; I believe he was a Jew - more on that later).
Again, we in the West have made this scripture to mean not that there is no longer Jew or Gentile, but that there is no longer Jew.
Think about it; we thiink that there are certain things that were given only to them, and becasue there is no longer Jew or Gentile, they should no longer have to do the Jewish things. I ask you this - how many times do you see God telling the Hebrews not to do the things in the Torah... and how many times do you see Him telling them not to do the things of the Gentiles? The answer: He never tells them to stop observing Torah. He repeatedly tells them not to behave lilkke the Gentiles. Why, when all of us are lumped together, would God change His mind, and request that all of His people act like the Gentiles whom He has so consistantly warned Israel about? He wouldn't. He is never changing.

I hope that you are getting what I am trying to say. We are able to partake in that Covenant that was given to the two houses of Israel because we have been grafted in. Grafted in to Israel! We are now partakers in those things because we have "been made near" to the promises and Covenants that we were once so far removed. We are grafted in as His "Chosen People." Remember, Jesus said that "you did not choose me, but I have chosen you." This makes us His "chosen people" as well!
I think that we need to rethink the "it was given to the Jews" mindset. After all, if we follow through on the logic behind it... what other choice do we have?

On The First Night of Hanukkah, I Got Linux Mint

2008-12-21T22:44:00.005-05:00

Well, after a huge hard drive crash, and no less than 5 Windows reinstalls, I am back on line. Over the course of the last two weeks, I have become very disillusioned with our government, the church, and last but not least, Microsoft.
I ask you; what sort of billion dollar company floods the market with their product, then leaves them high and dry? Answer: Microsoft. Their "tech support" is less than desirable, and if in the event you come across a person that can help you, chances are that you'll have to pay for their "services."

I have searched the net over, and after trying out about 8 different Live CD's from different Linux distributions, I have settled on Linux Mint.
...and I couldn't be happier. The tech support is phenominal, and the response time from the forrums can not be beat. I have my Audacity for the podcast, Firefox for the internet, and a ton of applicatins that I haven't gotten to yet; all of which are free. Free, as in they don't cost a penny... and you still have a vast reservour of help on the internet for each piece of software.

So, without further ado, I have a lot of catching up to do.
The nation is going down the tubes. There are rumors flying about
the government putting a "code" on every bullet to be sold. There are stories about a 500% mark up on all amunition. Gas prices continue to linger around $1.50 even though the price of crude oil has dropped below 25% of what it was a month ago. Obama is even lying to his Vice President now, saying that he will be present at every crucial decision (eh*hem... right). Jessie Jackson wants his name back of all things. The press is blaming the political correct housing disaster that was forged by Democrats on , you guessed it, George Bush.
and the most ridiculous piece of news of this decade: the Associated press is declaring that the cold weather snap is proof that Global Warming is happening in a big way.
...and that my friends, is just plain stupid.

I am going to once again move away from the political side of Mangdiddles, and start doing more Torah based writing. Stick around, we are in for a Minty fresh new start!
Happy Chanukkah!

Off To A Telling Start

2008-11-24T10:13:00.003-05:00

He is getting ready to take the wheel of a sinking ship, and rather than going to church, he goes to the gym.
--------------------------------

"Obama skips church, heads to gym"

President-elect Barack Obama has yet to attend church services since winning the White House earlier this month, a departure from the example of his two immediate predecessors.

On the three Sundays since his election, Obama has instead used his free time to get in workouts at a Chicago gym.

Asked about the president-elect's decision to not attend church, a transition aide noted that the Obamas valued their faith experience in Chicago but were concerned about the impact their large retinue may have on other parishioners.

"Because they have a great deal of respect for places of worship, they do not want to draw unwelcome or inappropriate attention to a church not used to the attention their attendance would draw," said the aide.

Both President-elect George W. Bush and President-elect Bill Clinton managed to attend church in the weeks after they were elected.

In November of 1992, Clinton went to services in Little Rock, Ark., on the three weekends following his election, taking pre-church jogs on the first two and attending on the third weekend a Catholic Mass with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, with whom he was trying to smooth over lingering campaign tensions.
(read the rest here.)

America's Tooth Trouble

2008-11-08T23:30:00.004-05:00

With the elections finally over, I must say that I have felt a sense of relief, in spite of our new Socialist leadership. This feeling is hard to explain, but I'll give it a shot...
It is sort of like having a throbbing, aching toothache day in and day out for months on end. Every time you wake up, it is there - when you lay down to sleep, it is there, nagging at your senses. All you can think of is that annoying, painful tooth. It permeates every aspect of your life; sometimes going as far as to wake you up from your restless sleep... providing you ever get to sleep in the first place.
One day, you make it to the long awaited dentist appointment. You know that there is going to be a lot of pain on that day. You dread it, while at the same time, you know it is necessary.
Upon entering the dentist's office, you are told that you are going to have the tooth pulled.
"Pull it" you say, knowing that it will hurt even more, but it is necessary.

This is where our analogy takes a turn.

While pulling the tooth, you begin to sense a smidgen of relief... then the tooth breaks off. It is terribly painful, and the dentist will have to dig into your gum and jaw to remove it, but he finally gets it out, with much unnecessary pain.
Sweet relief, but just for a moment.

Here's where we are right now - sweet relief that the appointment is finally over. All of the flashy "painless dentistry" advertisements and other lies are off the shelf for another two or three years. Then the dentist calls you up and tells you that there is some bad news. It seems that though you are free of the bad tooth pain, there is a new problem. While extracting the nuisance of a tooth, the process of removal accidentally allowed a nasty infection into your mouth. You won't feel any pain for a while; in fact you will feel pretty good for a few months, but the good feeling is going to be short lived.

This particular infection has a nasty habit of spreading into every other vital system that sustains the life of your body. Is it a cancer? "Not yet," he says. "But it will be if you don't do something about it. This infection is detrimental to every other vital organ in your body. It will slowly kill you from the inside. It will be totally painless... at first. When it finally starts to consume you, it will hurt everywhere. You will end up a stinking, rotting corpse; just an emaciated, hallow shell of what you once were."

...and your next dentist appointment isn't for another four years.

Thanks guys

2008-11-06T16:06:00.004-05:00

Just a couple more hateful posts, and I will be through. But for now, have you seen what Lord Obama is doing to the stock market?

Wall Street Suffers Second Straight Day of Big Losses; Down Down About 500

UPDATE: Just as suddenly as the vile comments came to Mangdiddles, they have left. The stock market is still tanking, and now he has taken a swipe at Nancy Reagan. There is no shame. One day on the job, and he is making apologies to former First Ladies.

I would be willing to bet my sweet pompadour that there will not be many more apologies in the future; he's too big for that.

My Opinion

2008-11-05T07:55:00.003-05:00

Any man that would blindly follow unidentified hope, and unspecified change deserves any atrocities that may come his way.
People sheltered by founding principles rooted in Liberty that choose to give those principles away deserve to reap the fruit of life without Liberty.
A land that refuses to learn from, and has the audacity to rewrite history will ultimately be forced to relive it. Unfortunately, those mishaps will be choreographed and exploited by enemies who unlike in the past, possess or are violently seeking to possess nuclear weapons.
Shortsightedness in today's political decisions will ultimately hurt our children more than it hurts us.
When those who have earnestly sought to destroy the foundations of a once-righteous nation gain full power, they will finish the job.

...that is all I have off of the top of my head.

My last reply in the comments on the previous post sum up my reply to being called a 'hater.'

"Speak of hate all you want, but in the end it was Barack, not I who attended Jeremiah Wright's congregation for over 20 years. It was he, not I, who is friends with the self professing anti-Semite, Louis Farrakhan. And lets not forget that it was Obama who said in his memoirs that he meticulously sought out radicals for friends and Marxists for professors.
I don't "rant" out of hatred. I rant because my generation is blindly following an unidentified "change" that in my opinion could ultimately lead to America's downfall, and they have (in mass) put their "hope" in the Marxist ideology of an inexperienced "community organizer" rather than the Constitution of the United States of America.
If you can honestly say that you have read these comments and come out thinking that I am the one spewing hatred - then you, my friend, are one of the blind people that I am referring to.
Your CHANGE and HOPE are here - -now all we have to do is HOPE the our enemies haven't really paid attention to the Left's brilliant ideas on appeasement; and HOPE that he will CHANGE his views on the First and Second Amendments, the splitting of Jerusalem, spreading the wealth, and all of the other Marxist trash he promised while campaigning."

Obama Wants to Split Jerusalem... when he's talking to Abbas, that is.

2008-11-04T10:36:00.004-05:00

I figured that since I have the attention of quite a few of Obama's most prominent thinkers, it would be a good time to show a story from Arutz Sheva, Israeli National News where Abbas says that he has never heard such good things from a presidential hopeful. Joy. Obama has lied to Israel, telling them that he endorses the unity of Jerusalem... then promises the terrorists the exact opposite.
A unifier indeed.

From Arutz Sheva:
OBAMA TELLS ABBAS: I SUPPORT DIVIDING JERUSALEM
Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama privately expressed his support for a new Arab state within Israel's current borders, including eastern Jerusalem, during his meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah this summer.

According to a report published Tuesday in the Lebanese newspaper al-Ahbar, Obama told Abbas that he supports a PA state, and Arab "rights to east Jerusalem" as well. The sources said Abbas and PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad "heard the best things they ever heard from an American president" during the meeting. However, said sources quoted in the report, the candidate asked them to keep his declaration a secret.

PA spokesman Nimar Hamad said he had no comment on the remarks, other than to describe the briefing Abbas and Fayyad had given to the presidential hopeful.

"The Palestinian Authority views the American elections as an internal matter and does not favor one person over another," he said in an official statement. "The PA hopes that the next American president will fulfill his commitment towards the Palestinians and pressure Israel."

Click here for continuation of this story.

CNN still taking jabs, even at the last minute.

2008-11-04T07:44:00.004-05:00

CNN is fighting for Obama even now, as we enter the last day if the race. Check out this story on their title page:

Americans are lining up at polling stations today in what already is one of the most historic U.S. elections. Democrat Barack Obama could become the nation's first African-American president. Republican John McCain could become the oldest president elected to a first term. McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, could become the first woman elected vice president. Americans also are expected to vote in record numbers. full story (emphasis mine)

----------------------

By the way - I did not take the picture of Obama with the cigarette in his mouth; I only posted it.
I am a little shocked at the way Obama supporters insist on behaving when they are 'standing up' for their candidate. At what point in the political arena did talking like a thug become the norm?
I have an idea: I think that regardless of which side wins, the US should be split in two with a vertical line going through the center of the country; Conservatives on one side, and Liberals on the other. We have completely different views on how this country should conduct itself, and those views are without doubt irreconcilable.

...of course, if we were to do this, the Left would insist on having open borders,
and insist that we are "occupiers" in their territory.
--------------------------------------

More from CNN, with some comments lacking the "F" word.:
CNN: Obama is "humbled"
Mangdiddles: ...so humbled that he gave Mccain the middle finger.
CNN: final polls shiw 'big gap' for Mccain
Mangdiddles: Their polls are worthless according to their own standards.
CNN: Democrats try to build on 36-seat House majority
Democrats aim for powerful majority in Senate
Mangdiddles: Is there another party here? Every other headline on CNN today is "The Democrats...."

So much for Rated G - Diddles

2008-11-03T22:31:00.003-05:00

Anger rampant on the internet? Who would have thought?
Evidently, the Left does not want to engage in rhetoric of any sensible kind these days, and it is taking a toll on my comments section.
I've tried to keep this a G rated site, but the Left just has no patience for rated G.
I will have to have "moderate comments" turned on from here out - in the meantime, if you have a stomach for bad grammar and shotty spelling, laced with a whole bunch of F words, check out the comments after any anti-Obama post. You'll be surprised at what his base really thinks.

From CNN:

#@*!!! Anonymous Anger Rampant on Internet

Obama on concealed weapons permits

2008-11-03T14:01:00.001-05:00

...in his own words.

Dear Mr. Obama...

2008-10-30T12:09:00.002-04:00

Dear Mr. Obama...
(click)

...Because Funny is Funny.

2008-10-26T09:07:00.003-04:00

Sometimes, when the news is just too messed up to put it all into words, a guy needs to step back and watch Rhett and Link lay it out in understandable terms.

Obama is her "Personal Jesus"

2008-10-17T06:23:00.005-04:00

If you have just eaten, I apologize in advance - this might make you toss your proverbial cookies.
(From Worldnetdaily.com):

"Obama is my homeboy. And I'm not saying that because he's black – I'm saying that in reference to those Urban Outfitters T-shirts from a couple years ago that said, 'Jesus is my homeboy.' Yes, I just said it. Obama is my Jesus," wrote Maggie Mertens in the Smithsophian's commentary section recently under the headline: "I Will Follow Him: Obama As My Personal Jesus."

"While you may be overtly religious and find this to be idol-worshipping, or may be overtly politically correct and just know that everything in that sentence could be found offensive, I'm afraid it's true anyway," she wrote.

..."I've officially been saved, and soon, whether they like it or not, the rest of the country will be too. I will follow him, all the way to the White House, and I'll be standing there in our nation's capital in January 2009, when Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States of America. In the name of Obama, Amen."

read it all here; it gets even more disgusting.
__________________________

She says that it was not written as satire. I agree (that it is not satire, that is). I think that the media as a whole have already accepted Obama as their "savior" as well, which serves them well - a communist messiah for a communist people.

I love Rush Limbaugh's comments - if you were wondering whether or not he was a Christian, here's your answer:
"I know Jesus Christ. I pray to Jesus Christ all the time," said Limbaugh." I study what Jesus Christ did and said all the time, and let me tell you something, Barack Obama, you are no Jesus Christ."

This is for you, Mo!

2008-10-15T22:20:00.003-04:00

Just s short documentary that explains Sukkot.

...and here's a short song that explains why we celebrate these festivals!

For My King

2008-10-14T20:51:00.002-04:00

Bar-radical Hussein Obama the Marxist Bible Mocker

2008-10-11T00:20:00.006-04:00

Here is an add that shows Barach Hussein Obama's true feelings concerning the Word of God.

Ironically, he calls the Sermon on the Mound "so radical that its doubtful that our own Defense Department could survive its application."

So radical... where have I heard the term radical in conjunction with Barack Hussein Obama?
Oh, yes! That's right - it was when his hero, Saul Alinsky dedicated his book, "Rules for Radicals" to the "greatest radical of all... Lucifer."

He has a lot of nerve, this nobody who was groomed by the media and Communists; to come out swinging not only at those of us who adhere to God's Word, but the very Word its self.

Here are the rules laid out in Saul Alinskey's book, Rules for Radicals. Check each one out, and ask yourself does this sound familiar? Then sit back and chew on the fact that Saul was trying to bring about a Marxist revolution.
Yes, a Marxist revolution.

Click here to read it all. (emphasis mine)

Alinsky provides a collection of rules to guide the process. But he emphasizes these rules must be translated into real-life tactics that are fluid and responsive to the situation at hand.

Rule 1: Power is not only what you have, but what an opponent thinks you have. If your organization is small, hide your numbers in the dark and raise a din that will make everyone think you have many more people than you do.

Rule 2: Never go outside the experience of your people. (this is why Barack Hussein Obama says so much without ever saying anything at all)
The result is confusion, fear, and retreat.

Rule 3: Whenever possible, go outside the experience of an opponent. Here you want to cause confusion, fear, and retreat. (keep in mind that Barack Hussein Obama regularly accuses McCain, Bush and Palin of using 'fear tactics.' )

Rule 4: Make opponents live up to their own book of rules. “You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity.” (enough said)

Rule 5: Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It’s hard to counterattack ridicule, and it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage.

Rule 6: A good tactic is one your people enjoy. “If your people aren’t having a ball doing it, there is something very wrong with the tactic.”

Rule 7: A tactic that drags on for too long becomes a drag. Commitment may become ritualistic as people turn to other issues.

Rule 8: Keep the pressure on. Use different tactics and actions and use all events of the period for your purpose. “The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition. It is this that will cause the opposition to react to your advantage.”

Rule 9: The threat is more terrifying than the thing itself. When Alinsky leaked word that large numbers of poor people were going to tie up the washrooms of O’Hare Airport, Chicago city authorities quickly agreed to act on a longstanding commitment to a ghetto organization. They imagined the mayhem as thousands of passengers poured off airplanes to discover every washroom occupied. Then they imagined the international embarrassment and the damage to the city’s reputation.

Rule 10: The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative. Avoid being trapped by an opponent or an interviewer who says, “Okay, what would you do?” (Because God knows that Barack Hussein Obama doesn't know what he would do unless it were given to him on his teleprompter)

Rule 11: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, polarize it. Don’t try to attack abstract corporations or bureaucracies. Identify a responsible individual. Ignore attempts to shift or spread the blame.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Follow these important rules, and the Marxist revolution that you long for will be handed to you on a voter-fraud-laden silver plated platter, topped with ambiguous mantras of change and hope, lightly sprinkled with accusations of racism and fear mongering." ~Mang.

Meanwhile, the mainstream media is trying to conger up a smear on Palin for firing ex-brother-in-law fired from the state police. I want to see them rail on Obama for not firing his pastor, Jeremiah Wright; who obviously wasn't doing a good job of teaching scripture for the 20 years that Barack was a member of his church.

Jaw Dropper From the Lekarev Report

2008-10-07T16:06:00.002-04:00

Key Obama Advisor Called for US Military Invasion of Israel

Samantha Power, a key Obama adviser, called in 2002 for billions of dollars in US military aid to Israel to be invested instead in Palestine and in a "mammoth" US-backed military force to impose a solution to the "Palestine-Israeli situation" on the pretext of preventing Rwanda-like genocide.

The Irish-born Power, pegged as a leading candidate for a top foreign policy position in a prospective Obama administration, perhaps NSC Advisor or even Secretary of State, left the Obama campaign after she was quoted as calling Hillary Clinton a "monster."

But that dismissal did not reflect a reduction in her influence on Obama's thinking. And when it comes to the Mideast, her views of Israel and American Jews appear to resemble those of Obama's democratic rival.

A video clip from a 2002 interview reveals Power calling for US moves that "might mean alienating a domestic constituency," she snickered coyly, "of tremendous political and financial import", candidly calling for "sacrificing ... billions of dollars not in servicing the Israeli military but rather investing in the new state of Palestine" and in a "mammoth protection force."

Power suggested that the US would need to send a "meaningful military presence" to go in on a scale greater than any previous force. Though "imposition of a solution on unwilling parties is as a "dreadful, a terrible thing to do, fundamentally undemocratic," she said, it was essential to stop Israeli and Palestinian leaders who seem "politically destined to destroy the lives of their own peoples." She suggested that just as "external intervention" in Rwanda might have prevented genocide, doing the the same in "Palestine-Israeli situation" would likely prove "lesser of evils."

For more on this story and to see the clip for yourself, click below.

Israelis Alarmed Over Obama 'Advisor' - Potential Cabinet Member?

...How can anybody take this guy seriously?

There you have it.

2008-10-07T09:22:00.001-04:00

He Chose Them

2008-10-05T14:56:00.002-04:00

WOW.

This stuff just keeps coming.

...And More Lies.

2008-10-03T15:26:00.004-04:00

This is interesting; 14 lies as told by a McCain blogger at www.johnmccain.com.
If I can ever get the time I would like to show the video of each. I can not promise that that will happen though, as I just started to get in control of my stomach problems, and too much footage of liberals spewing lies might just set me belly off.
Yes, it may set me belly off.

In the meantime, here they are: 14 Lies From Biden

1. TAX VOTE: Biden said McCain voted “the exact same way” as Obama to increase taxes on Americans earning just $42,000, but McCain DID NOT VOTE THAT WAY.

2. AHMEDINIJAD MEETING: Joe Biden lied when he said that Barack Obama never said that he would sit down unconditionally with Mahmoud Ahmedinijad of Iran. Barack Obama did say specifically, and Joe Biden attacked him for it.

3. OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING: Biden said, “Drill we must.” But Biden has opposed offshore drilling and even compared offshore drilling to “raping” the Outer Continental Shelf.”

4. TROOP FUNDING: Joe Biden lied when he indicated that John McCain and Barack Obama voted the same way against funding the troops in the field. John McCain opposed a bill that included a timeline, that the President of the United States had already said he would veto regardless of it’s passage.

5. OPPOSING CLEAN COAL: Biden says he’s always been for clean coal, but he just told a voter that he is against clean coal and any new coal plants in America and has a record of voting against clean coal and coal in the U.S. Senate.

6. ALERNATIVE ENERGY VOTES: According to FactCheck.org, Biden is exaggerating and overstating John McCain’s record voting for alternative energy when he says he voted against it 23 times.

7. HEALTH INSURANCE: Biden falsely said McCain will raise taxes on people's health insurance coverage -- they get a tax credit to offset any tax hike. Independent fact checkers have confirmed this attack is false

8. OIL TAXES: Biden falsely said Palin supported a windfall profits tax in Alaska -- she reformed the state tax and revenue system, it's not a windfall profits tax.

9. AFGHANISTAN / GEN. MCKIERNAN COMMENTS: Biden said that top military commander in Iraq said the principles of the surge could not be applied to Afghanistan, but the commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force Gen. David D. McKiernan said that there were principles of the surge strategy, including working with tribes, that could be applied in Afghanistan.

10. REGULATION: Biden falsely said McCain weakened regulation -- he actually called for more regulation on Fannie and Freddie.

11. IRAQ: When Joe Biden lied when he said that John McCain was “dead wrong on Iraq”, because Joe Biden shared the same vote to authorize the war and differed on the surge strategy where they John McCain has been proven right.

12. TAX INCREASES: Biden said Americans earning less than $250,000 wouldn’t see higher taxes, but the Obama-Biden tax plan would raise taxes on individuals making $200,000 or more.

13. BAILOUT: Biden said the economic rescue legislation matches the four principles that Obama laid out, but in reality it doesn’t meet two of the four principles that Obama outlined on Sept. 19, which were that it include an emergency economic stimulus package, and that it be part of “part of a globally coordinated effort with our partners in the G-20.”

14. REAGAN TAX RATES: Biden is wrong in saying that under Obama, Americans won't pay any more in taxes then they did under Reagan.

Lying Like A Liberal

2008-10-03T13:29:00.003-04:00

Here's Biden lying through his teeth - saying that he has "always" supported clean coal... then here he is saying that he does not support clean coal.
Obama must be loosing his omniscience or something - a guy with his god-like appeal should know what his right hand man stands for.

The countdown begins for the Hillary - Biden replacement. Rush gave it till October 15; I think it will be sooner.

Shocker! Bidens's Statements Factually Wrong.

2008-10-03T07:29:00.003-04:00

To those of us who are not blinded by Obamassiah's shining brilliance, this is not surprising.
I watched the second half of the debate last night, and not only did Palin make Biden look like an idiot, but the fact that he is a liar was made very clear.
Karl tells us point by point just how wrong Biden was...

Rove
by luvnews

"Run," by Chris Cox

2008-10-01T23:08:00.004-04:00

This is an original praise song by a friend of mine, Chris Cox.
He has an awesome gift for writing and leading worship.

Click here to see it on Godtube.

This was recorded in Crawfordsville, Indiana at a Christian music

festival put on by Calvary Chapel.

"Deny Me, And I Will Deny You Before My Father"

2008-09-29T17:14:00.001-04:00

Not Mango, But Still Funny

2008-09-28T10:35:00.003-04:00

Ninja Cat @ Yahoo! Video

Messianic Teaching / Podcast / Free Download

2008-09-28T09:39:00.003-04:00

It is finally here.
We now have superb sound quality on our weekly Messianic teaching on The Word Is Grace!

Please check out our latest installment in the book of John:

Saturday, Sep 27, 2008

"But Lord, He Stinketh." John 11:1 - 46

Download this episode (61 min)
Our sound quality has been dramatically improved since last week’s podcast! Please check it out, and let us know what you think…

Stinketh indeed; Lazarus had been dead for four days. For four days he had not had life's blood flowing through his veins. He was put in a tomb, and for four days, his body had been decomposing. His flesh was rotting.
That is until the one who is able to give life came on the scene. Jesus tells His disciples that Lazarus’ death was for the soul purpose of glorifying His Father.
Why did Jesus intentionally wait a couple of extra days? Did Mary and Martha know that He was getting ready to do something remarkable?
Thanks for joining us,
Shabbat shalom!

Have A Good Sabbath!

2008-09-26T18:02:00.003-04:00

In case I don't have time to post again before sundown, have a good shabbat.

After Sabbath, check out Barry Thomas' website (click here or on the picture).
He is the silversmith who made the beautiful Shabbat candle stand shown above.
Shabbat Shalom!

Obama - Mccain Dabate Blah, Blah Blah... Hope, Change, Blah

2008-09-26T17:24:00.004-04:00

Sabbath is finally here and man, I am ready for it.
I have been in the field all week, so I have missed a bunch of news, but I saw on Drudge that the debate is going to happen, so I wanted to tell you how it is going to go before it ever happens.

After the media lavishes praise after praise on Obama in the proceeding days, and McCain get almost no coverage, it will be something like this:

Commentator: Mr. Obama, your majesty... blah blah blah?

Obama: Thank you, blah blah ...um, change blah blah blah ...er, uh... blahblah hope, blah blahblah blah hope, blahblah blah blahblah blah uuuh, hope, change hmmm, uh... blahblah blah blahblah blah duhhh, um-hmmm, change hope, blah change blah blah blahblah hope, blah blahblah blah umm, er, uh... blahblah hope, blah blahblah blah hope, blahblah blah blahblah change blah hope, blahblah ...uhhem, blah change blahblah blah blahblah um, uh, blah hope, blahblah blah blahblah blah change blahblah blah hope, blahblah blah blah.

Commentator: That was absolutely amazing, blah blah blah.

Obama: Um... blah blah ...um, blah hope, blah blah ...er, uh... blahblah hope, blah blahblah blah blahblah blah blahblah blah uuuh, hmmm, uh... blahblah blah hope, blahblah blah hope, duhhh, um-hmmm.

McCain: Can i-
Commentator: You'll have your turn sir. So, Mr. Obama, blah blah blahblah blah blah?

Obama: Um... blah blah ...um, blah hope, blah blah ...er, uh... blahblah change change blah blahblah blah blahblah blah blahblah blah hope, uuuh, hmmm, uh... blahblah hope, blah blahblah blah duhhh, um-hmm er, uh... change blahblah blah hope, blahblah blah blahblah blah blahblah change blah blahblah ...uhhem, blah blahblah blah blahblah um, uh, blah hope, blahblah blah blahblah change blah blahblah hope, change hope, blah blahblah blah blah.
Commentator: That was magnificent! I had a chill down my leg when you said that last part about blah blah change blah. McCain, what do you think about blah balh blah, change blah and hope blah?

McCain: Well, I truly believe that-
Commentator: You are taking too long to answer, McCaine.
McCain: But I blah blah blah.
Commentator: Lord Obama, you are such an experienced leader - what do you think about blah blah blah?

And that is how it will go. They will say absolutely nothing of value, McCain will be ignored, Obama will be slobbered over, and the commentators will embaress themselves by looking like they are all in puppy love with Barack Hussein Obama. What a sham.

The Word Is Great Sound Quality!

2008-09-25T23:34:00.003-04:00

Starting this Shabbat, September 27, we will be uploading a much better quality sound file. The difference is night and day; almost crystal clear.
Please check it out (you can click here)
...and give us some feedback!

Thanks!

Last Week's Episode:
Saturday, Sep 20, 2008

"Jesus Went To Hanukkah!?" John 10:22 - 10:42
Download this episode (43 min)

Yes, not only does Jesus make the claim to be Messiah again (contrary to what His critics say, He claimed to be the Messiah on numerous occasions); but He does it at the Temple during Hanukkah (Chanukkah, Chanuka, Hanukkah, Hannukah, take your pick on spelling!). Most of us have read it before, but didn't realize that the "Feast of Dedication" was in fact Chanukkah! This brings a whole new light to the Festival of Lights, doesn't it?
Being Messiah is not the only claim He makes in this week's reading; He goes even further than that. Jesus boldly claims to give those who follow Him... well, you'll have to download this week's episode of The Word Is Grace to find out, won't you?
Thanks for joining us at

Shabbat shalom!

Ya Think?

2008-09-25T18:50:00.004-04:00

Finally, somebody in the media besides Rush Limbaugh and Greg Garrison have noticed that the media is hiding the real Barack Hussein Obama.
In its entirety from Tony Blankley:

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

BLANKLEY: Media covering for Obama

Tony Blankley

OP-ED:

The mainstream media have gone over the line and are now straight out propagandists for the Obama campaign. While they have been liberal and blinkered in their worldview for decades, in 2007-08 for the first time, the major media are consciously covering for one candidate for president and consciously knifing the other. This is no longer journalism — it is simply propaganda. (The American left-wing version of the Volkischer Beobachter cannot be far behind.) And as a result, we are less than seven weeks away from possibly electing a president who has not been thoroughly and even half way honestly presented to the country by our watchdogs — the press.

The image of Barack Obama that the press has presented is not a fair approximation of the real man. They have consciously ignored whole years in his life, and showed a lack of curiosity about such gaps that bespeaks a lack of journalistic instinct. Thus, the public image of Mr. Obama is of a "Man who never was." I take that phrase from a 1956 movie about a real life WWII British intelligence operation to trick the Germans into thinking the Allies were going to invade Greece, rather than Italy, in 1943. Operation "Mincemeat" involved the acquisition of a human corpse dressed as a Maj. William Martin, R.M. and put into the sea near Spain. Attached to the corpse was a brief-case containing fake letters suggesting that the Allied attack would be against Sardinia and Greece.

To make the operation credible, British intelligence created a fictional life for the corpse — a letter from a lover, tickets to a London theater, all the details of a life — but not the actual life of the dead young man whose corpse was being used. So, too, the man the media has presented to the nation as Mr. Obama is not the real man.

The mainstream media ruthlessly and endlessly repeats any McCain gaffes, while ignoring Obama gaffes. You have to go to weird little Internet sites to see all the stammering and stuttering that Mr. Obama needs before getting out a sentence fragment or two. But all you see on the networks is an eventual one or two clear sentences from Mr. Obama. Nor do you see Mr. Obama's ludicrous gaffe that Iran is a tiny country and no threat to us. Nor his 57 American states gaffe. Nor his forgetting, if he ever knew, that Russia has a veto in the United Nations. Nor his whining and puerile "come on" when he is being challenged. This is the kind of editing one would expect from Goebbels' disciples, not Cronkite's.

More appalling, NBC's "Saturday Night Live" suggested that Gov. Sarah Palin's husband had sex with his own daughters. That scene was written with the assistance of Al Franken, Democratic Party candidate for Senate in Minnesota. Talk about incest.

But worse than all the unfair and distorted reporting and image projecting, is the shocking gaps in Mr. Obama's life that are not reported at all. The major media simply has not reported on Mr. Obama's two years at Columbia University in New York, where, among other things, he lived a mere quarter mile from former terrorist Bill Ayers— after which they both ended up as neighbors and associates in Chicago. Mr. Obama denies more than a passing relationship with Mr. Ayers. Should the media be curious? In only two weeks the media has focused on all the colleges Mrs. Palin has attended, her husband's driving habits 20 years ago and the close criticism of Mrs. Palin's mayoral political opponents. But in two years they haven't bothered to see how close Mr. Obama was with the terrorist Ayers.

Nor have the media paid any serious attention to Mr. Obama's rise in Chicago politics — how did honest Obama rise in the famously sordid Chicago political machine with the full support of Boss Daley? Despite the great — and unflattering details on Mr. Obama's Chicago years presented in David Freddoso's new book, the mainstream media continues to ignore both the facts and the book. It took a British publication, the Economist, to give Mr. Freddoso's book a review with fair comment.

The public image of Mr. Obama as an idealistic, post-race, post-partisan, well-spoken and honest young man with the wisdom and courage befitting a great national leader is a confection spun by a willing conspiracy of Mr. Obama, his publicist David Axelrod and most of the senior editors, producers and reporters of the national media.

Perhaps that is why the National Journal's respected correspondent Stuart Taylor has written that "the media can no longer be trusted to provide accurate and fair campaign reporting and analysis." That conspiracy has not only photo-shopped out all of Mr. Obama's imperfections (and dirtied up his opponent Mr. McCain's image), but it has put most of his questionable history down the memory hole.

The public will be voting based on the idealized image of the man who never was. If he wins, however, we will be governed by the sunken, cynical man Mr. Obama really is. One can only hope that the senior journalists will be judged as harshly for their professional misconduct as Wall Street's leaders currently are for their failings.

Tony Blankley is a syndicated columnist.

"Dedicated to... Lucifer??"

2008-09-24T21:55:00.007-04:00

Change = Marxist Revolution
Obama's hero's book dedicated to = Lucifer

Have you ever heard of Saul Alinsky? No? If you have been paying attention to America's Anchorman, Rush Limbaugh, you have heard the name before. Rush seems to be the only guy in the public eye to say it like it is, so thank you Rush.
If you are on the fence about Obama, you should take a look at who this guy is, considering Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton both quoted him at the Democratic National Convention, and Obama got his "change" theme straight from Alinsky's book titled "Rules for Radicals."

In the book's forward, Saul Alinsky dedicates the book to Lucifer.

I can not do this story any more justice then Citizen Wells did, so without further ado, here is what the good citizen had to say. Hold on to your hats, folks, because this is the real deal. Research it.
---------------------------------------

From Citizen Wells:
September 12, 2008

“Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins — or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom — Lucifer“

Saul Alinsky dedicates his book, “Rules for Radicals” to Lucifer.

“Thirteen years after Alinsky died, some of his former students hired Barack Obama to a $13,000 a year job as a community organizer in South Chicago. In a few years he became very proficient in the Alinsky Method of community organizing and became an instructor and teacher of the Alinsky Method to other community organizers.”

“Any revolutionary change must be preceded by a passive, affirmative, non-challenging attitude toward change among the mass of our people. They must feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system that they are willing to let go of the past and change the future.”

One of America's Watchmen: Tom Tancredo

2008-09-24T21:44:00.003-04:00

From WorldNetDaily.com, in its entirity:

Brand new push in Congress to prevent Shariah invasion
Bill intended to assure citizens they won't be governed by Islam

Posted: September 23, 2008
8:59 pm Eastern

By Drew Zahn
© 2008 WorldNetDaily

Rep. Tom Tancredo

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., introduced a bill to the House of Representatives that seeks to prevent Islamic law from gaining a foothold in the U.S. legal system, as it has in other countries.

Tancredo introduced HR 6975, the Jihad Prevention Act, last week. If made into law, the bill would allow American authorities to prevent advocates of Islamic law, or Shariah, from entering the country, revoke the visa of any foreigners that champion it and revoke naturalization for citizens that seek to implement it in the U.S.

The radical form of Shariah includes several statutes objectionable to Western minds, including stoning for adulterous women, amputation for thieves and the death sentence for converting from Islam.

"When you have an immigration policy that allows for the importation of millions of radical Muslims," Tancredo said in a statement, "you are also importing their radical ideology – an ideology that is fundamentally hostile to the foundations of Western democracy – such as gender equality, pluralism and individual liberty.

"The best way to safeguard America against the importation of the destructive effects of this poisonous ideology is to prevent its purveyors from coming here in the first place," Tancredo said.

As WND reported, large Muslim populations in Canada seeking to live out their faith have convinced the Canadian government to permit the enforcement of Shariah.

The journal of the American Bar Association reported last week that Islamic court rulings are now enforceable in the United Kingdom as well.

Tancredo said he "moved quickly" to prevent similar legal entanglements in the U.S.

"We need to send a clear message that the only law we recognize here in America is the U.S. Constitution and the laws passed by our democratically elected representatives," he concluded. "If you aren't comfortable with that concept, you aren't welcome in the United States."

WND contacted the Council on American-Islamic Relations for comment on the bill but received none.

HR 6975 has been referred to the House Committee on Judiciary for review.

Yesterday, Islamic Terrorism Seemed So Far Away

2008-09-15T21:33:00.005-04:00

Even a Beatle isn't safe from the long terrorist arm of the Jihadist.
Kudos, Paul - I don't care if you did die in the 60's, and you are really an exact replica of yourself named Raymond Flanders who used to work at a water treatment plant in Tucson - don't let them intimidate you.

Please notice the new term, sacrifice operatives. That is what they are calling homicide bombers now; sacrifice operatives. What ever happened to leading by example?

[This is from the Jerusalem Post (Jpost.com)]
-----------------------------------------
Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney's decision to perform in Tel Aviv has made him
the target of a terror attack following a threat made against the singer by extremist Islamic leader Omar Bakri.

His planned participation in a concert celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary has made him the enemy of all Muslims, British tabloid Sunday Express quoted Bakri as saying.

Bakri's threat was made in a weekly Internet broadcast from Lebanon, where he has lived in exile since being banned from returning to Britain. The 48-year-old Syrian national questioned the Holocaust's authenticity, and asked how McCartney could participate in the celebration of the independence of the Jewish state.

"Instead of supporting the people of Palestine in their suffering, McCartney is celebrating the atrocities of the occupiers. The one who is under occupation is supposed to be getting the help," Bakri said. "Our enemy's friend is our enemy," the Muslim leader told the Sunday Express.

"Thus Paul McCartney is the enemy of every Muslim. We have what we call 'sacrifice' operatives who will not stand by while he joins in a celebration of their oppression. If he values his life Mr. McCartney must not come to Israel. He will not be safe there. The sacrifice operatives will be waiting for him."

McCartney, who was apparently shocked by the threat, was determined to perform in Israel and refused to cancel his show. His spokesman responded by saying that McCartney intended to come with a "message of peace". On Saturday, McCartney said he was approached by several political groups who asked him to cancel the trip, but he declined.

Sometimes Silence Says A Lot

2008-09-14T01:20:00.005-04:00

In this one, they are bashing Palin for never going into Iraq proper to visit the troops from Alaska...

"(CNN) – Sarah Palin did not visit troops in Iraq, a spokesperson for the Republican VP nominee confirmed Saturday, as new details emerged about the extent of the Alaska governor’s foreign travel..."

"...The Boston Globe reported Saturday that Palin visited the Iraqi side of a border crossing — but never journeyed past the checkpoint."
--------------------------------

The fact that we didn't see any of this in the news at the time speaks volumes about Sarah Palin.
She went over there without a camera crew, without a news anchor, without an entourage, and obviously without any intentions motivated by fanfare.

Unlike Barack Obama.
Barack Hussein Obama did go over there... but refused to visit the wounded troops upon finding out that his camera crew would not be allowed in.
Barack Hussein Obama also made it a point to let those same troops know that he was violently against America's drive for victory in the war.
Then, Barack Hussein Obama traveled the globe on his "rock tour" with a team of panting media giants, hell-bent on covering his stupid remarks, and defending him, in spite of who he is.

I had an interesting tip from a friend today - check out Obama's voting record here, if you have the stomach for it. It is very interesting to see just exactly what he has voted for and against.
I don't see how any thinking person could ever support such an empty suit as this guy.

IKE, The Media, and Other Disasters...

2008-09-14T01:06:00.003-04:00

The people of Texas are in our prayers. I will take tornados any day over the sort of devistation they are experiencing down there.

Having said that, have you been to WorldNetDaily.com lately? Check out some of these headlines. Each one has a link to the story it goes to, and yes, each one is as messed up as it sounds.

1. Ex-Air America host: Palin can't be trusted with teen boys
Randi Rhodes follows up claim McCain was treated well by Vietnamese captors

2. Alba's seduce-the-vote campaign
Actress makes raunchy, topless, bondage ad to get young people to polls
"Sexy actress Jessica Alba stars in a raunchy, topless, bondage ad campaign designed to get young people to vote Nov. 4."
(Mangdiddles is a rated-G website, so I won't put the advertisement photo on here. If you are so inclined to see it, click on the headline above... it is pretty raunchy for a presidential vote)

3. L.A. Times rebukes ABC for distorting Palin remarks
Charlie Gibson misquotes governor, assuming she saw U.S. in 'holy war'

"The Times said Gibson "went on to take a second part of her comments out of context. Palin had asked the group to pray 'that there is a plan, and that plan is God's plan.'"But Gibson dropped her reference to praying, the Times said, and instead quoted Palin as saying the war was God's plan."

This is a nasty race.

You Can Wrap Obama In A Fish Suit, And He Will Still Smell Like A Pig

2008-09-09T19:18:00.006-04:00

Wow - just when you think it is safe for a woman to get into politics...

Here's the report in its entirety from Ben Smith’s Blog:

Amie Parnes reports from Lebanon, VA:
Obama poked fun of McCain and Palin's new "change" mantra."You can put lipstick on a pig," he said as the crowd cheered. "It's still a pig.""You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It's still gonna stink.""We've had enough of the same old thing."
The crowd apparently took the "lipstick" line as a reference to Palin, who described the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull in a single word: "lipstick."

-----------------------------------------

I would like to think that he wasn’t referring to Sarah Palin, well, because that would not be the “change we need” now would it?

For the record, you can wrap a politician preaching “change” in a nice suit, and even with a flag pin, it doesn’t make him a patriot.
A true patriot makes decisions that sometimes go against the majority, simply because it is the right thing to do.
A true patriot visits wounded troops – even when the cameras aren’t allowed in.
A true patriot knows that sometimes going to war is the right thing to do – not to take lives, though it is an unfortunate byproduct, but to end regimes that are bent on taking the lives of innocent people.
A true patriot would never call himself a citizen of the world while giving a speech in a foreign land – especially one that killed 6.5 million Jews – he would call himself an American first... and he would police his official website's blog entries that call for putting the Jews back in the oven.

Like I said, you can wrap Obama in a fish suit, and he will still smell like a pig… or you can wrap a communist up in a suit with a flag pin on it, and he’s still a Communist… or you can wrap a communist up in a donkey suit, and you will have today’s liberal… or something like that.
Biden is coming out of his politically correct closet too, but I gotta go for now...

UPDATE: I guess my comments touched a couple of liberal's nerves. Allow me to address each point, however silly it may be.

1. Anonymous said...

Well speaking of pig... I am wondering if you are not on the extreme right side here...

My Reply: Yes, I am on the "extreme right." I am not ashamed to be on the extreme right either. That is why I write about the stupidity and moral deficiency of the extreme left.

2. Anonymous said...

Wow! What excellent journalism you conduct. You're quoting a blog that quotes a blog that quotes a blog. Why anyone would take you seriously is beyond me.
Stick to the God business. Leave the politics to the experts.

My Reply: I conduct no journalism here, nor do I claim to. I was quoting a blog from Ben Smith from the Politico, that was a direct transcript of what Obama said. I saw it on the Drudge Report, and the whole story is here, on the Wall Street Journal. By the looks of it, I have already done more research than Katie Couric has done in 15 years, and she gets paid to spew her opinion.By the main stream media's standards, I could be a professional.

Coincidentally, your final statement identifies the problem with liberals in America; "leaving it to the experts" is not only a recipe for elitism run amuck, it is nowhere to be found in our constitution. As elected officials, they are my employees as well as yours - lets treat them as such.

3. Anonymous said...

McCain is misguided and Palin hates America. Just ask her 'pastor,' who hates it too.

My Reply: ...huh? Are you watching the same race? I think you have the Irreverant Jeremiah Wright (AKA: AmeriKKKa) mixed up with Palin's pastor; who by the way is a respectable man who loves Jesus and our country. I have met his family, and can say this with no regrets.

4. Progressively against the current said...

Wow, I never knew JFK, FDR, Carter, or Clinton, "Free trade maniac creating NAFTA and selling globalization" were commies. You can wrap a blogger preaching about how he came back from the brink and wrap it in religion yet still find nothing but stupid stereotypes.

My Reply: What in the name of intelligent argument are you talking about? The first sentence of your comment makes no sense to me at all. All I can make out of it is that you rightly recognize Carter and Clinton as Commies. As for FDR and JFK, I don't think either one of them was a Commie... and I don't think they have anything to do with my original post. Nor does NAFTA. I am glad that you took the time to read a lilttle bit of my testimony though, and had the courage to put your name on your comment.

In summary, I would like to go over a couple of things that we have learned by this exchange.

1. When the truth is presented, and it makes the opposition look like fools, the opposition lash out at your integrity, your character, your pastor if you have one.

2. When said opposition gets too angry to type, they shouldn’t. Their ability to argue a point with logical rhetoric disappears as soon as the finger hits the key.

3. Three out of four liberals would rather comment under the name “Anonymous” then to risk hearing back from the person they just confronted. This, in my opinion, means that they are not only lacking a real argument, but they are weenies.

Either Way...

2008-09-07T10:11:00.005-04:00

This is a song I wrote when I first got saved.

Here it is on Godtube.
Here's the lyrics:

I know You're with me
You're Spirit breathes in me
even when I don't feel you there
I know you love me
But sometimes its hard to see
after all, I'm only a man

Open my eyes, its hard to see
am I even close to where i should be
should I run or should i stand?
either way, just hold my hand

You alone are worthy
and I give all my praise to thee
You are the Rock on which i stand
i know you love me
and sometimes its all that i can see
after all I'm only a man

You're on my mind constantly
You alone have set me free
in ways that I don't understand
You lead me by the hand
You lead me by the hand

Palin, The Daughter Of One Man And One Woman

2008-09-04T12:00:00.004-04:00

(photo from CNN.com)
Yes, I've seen her, and yes... she rocks.

If Chuck Norris was a lady, Sarah Palin would kick her butt.

She is not only a spectacular politician, but she is a Christian, she's pro life, a mother of five, a hunter (who knows how to field dress her own kills), she's attractive, and she will be a bright spot in history books for years to come.

...unlike Barack Obama, who according to this guy is more than just a piece of history,
he is a miracle.

Blowing the Whistle on VICTORY

2008-09-03T21:15:00.006-04:00

Finally, somebody is saying it in public - we won the war in Iraq.

Here's the story about the story as told by WorldNetDaily

------------------------
VICTORY IN IRAQ!
Why the establishment press is burying the story of the year

What kind of headline would you expect newspapers nationwide to trumpet if America won the war in Iraq and destroyed al-Qaida there?

Maybe something like this? "VICTORY IN IRAQ! AL-QAIDA SMASHED!" Perhaps even old-fashioned newsboys on the street corners, yelling "Extra, extra! Vic'try in Iraq! Read all about it!"

Don't hold your breath. You won't see such headlines in American newspapers or leading network news broadcasts – even though, believe it or not, by all credible accounts America has indeed won the war in Iraq!

You see, the "mainstream press" isn't really too excited about America winning the war right now. Why? It's just bad timing: Success in Iraq doesn't fit the media's overriding agenda for the next couple months, which is to further discredit George W. Bush and Republicans, and to assure that Barack ("We must end this failed war") Obama is elected president and as many Democrats as possible are installed in Congress, legislatures and statehouses nationwide.

There is, however, at least one media entity that is telling the whole story of America's stunning success in Iraq, and that is WND's elite monthly Whistleblower magazine, in the inspiring September edition, "VICTORY IN IRAQ!"

Ironically, 2008 is already becoming known as "the year the media died," because of its astonishingly biased treatment of the two major presidential candidates – network anchor groupies tagging along with Obama on his European campaign trip while all but ignoring McCain; the New York Times running Obama's op-ed on Iraq, but refusing to run McCain's response the following week, and so on.

But there's another area in which the media died this year – namely, coverage of the Iraq war.

Sure, while things were going terribly and it looked like America was losing, news coverage was constant – and unrelentingly negative. Bad news – IED attacks, political setbacks, accusations of atrocities on the part of U.S. soldiers, statements by Democrat leaders condemning the "failed" Iraq war – led the evening news night after night.

But recently, Americans haven't heard very much about Iraq. Reason: The news is good. In fact, as "VICTORY IN IRAQ!" dramatically documents, the U.S. is winning – big-time.

When you read "VICTORY IN IRAQ!," you'll find out why:

Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, says, "Very clearly, the insurgency is in no position to overthrow the government or, really, even to challenge it.

A rare Associated Press story on America's success in Iraq reveals: "In Baghdad, parks are filled every weekend with families playing and picnicking with their children. That was unthinkable only a year ago, when the first, barely visible signs of a turnaround emerged.

Army Col. Tom James, a brigade commander on his third combat tour in Iraq, says: "We've put out the forest fire. Now we're dealing with pop-up fires.

Gen. David Petraeus' says, "Attacks in Iraq hit a four-year low in mid-May and … Iraqi forces were finally taking the lead in combat and on multiple fronts at once – something that was inconceivable a year ago.

Independent embedded journalist and former Green Beret Michael Yon, reporting from the front lines, says, "By my estimation, the Iraq War is over. We won. Which means the Iraqi people won."

Iraqi citizens who formerly were intimidated by al-Qaida atrocities into joining and protecting the terror group now take up arms and shoot al-Qaida terrorists in their midst, saying they're sick and tired of the terror and are not going to take it anymore.

Following are just a few highlights of the many articles – accompanied by amazing photos – in "VICTORY IN IRAQ!":

"How the media bury victory" by David Kupelian, exposing how the "mainstream press" has managed to disguise the story of the year
"McCain's rejected op-ed": Now you can read Sen. John McCain's gutsy editorial on Iraq policy which the New York Times refused to publish
"The surge in Iraq: 1 year later" by Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, in which America's next senior commander in Iraq reveals how the tides of war turned
"U.S. soldiers befriend Iraqi children" by Matt Sanchez, describing from the front lines how Iraqi kids are unafraid of the "gentle giants" in their midst with body armor, dark glasses and weaponry
"Saddam's forces boasted of moving WMD to Syria before war" by Ryan Mauro, whose interview with the former U.S. overseer of Iraqi prisons reveals that 40 incarcerated ex-military Iraqis confirm transport of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction prior to invasion
"Don't let the Democrats disenfranchise our troops" by Melanie Morgan. Believe it or not, once again America's servicemen and women are in danger of having their votes not count this November. As one Marine official put it: "Thousands of service members who try to vote will do so in vain"
and much more

"I think you will find this issue of Whistleblower enlightening and uplifting," says WND founder and Editor Joseph Farah. "Sometimes it seems the news doesn't give us much to smile about. The turnabout in Iraq should provide every American and every freedom-loving, peace-loving person in the world reason to cheer."

Before Abraham Was...

2008-09-02T06:07:00.003-04:00

"Before Abraham was, I AM” John 8:33 - 8:59

How are we to abide in Yeshua’s words? Were His words new, or was he merely telling us what God the Father had to say? We believe that it is of the utmost importance to know what His words are, especially if we are called to obey and abide in them!
In America, obedience and submission have almost become derogatory terms. Our Master, Yeshua demands that we obey Him! We, as disciples (Talmudim) are required to not only know the words of the one we serve, but we are to live them. Our Messiah’s words are to become to us a way of life.
We serve a merciful and gracious God, whose love is larger than anything we could ever know. But there is more to our God than His mercy; He demands and deserves our obedience. The gift He has given us as believers is free, but we owe Him nothing less than our entire lives.
Yet again, this week our Savior claims to be God. Yeshua told the Pharisees “before Abraham was, I am.” I submit to you today that He STILL IS. Let us all take a moment to think about this, one of the most profound statements in the entire bible. He still is the great I AM.
Shabbat Shalom!

"Do Not" Still Means DO NOT.

2008-09-01T08:28:00.009-04:00

(Easter Ham)

In the past, when talking to other believers, I have avoided conversations that involve Messianic or Hebraic Roots topics unless they are brought up by the other person. I have found that most people who bring the subject up intend to argue, or just get hateful and nasty about it. For this reason, I have kept quiet.

Not any more.

There is an urgent need for Truth in the Christian world today. In almost every direction, my wife and I see people who profess to believe in Jesus, yet have almost no visible signs of His presence in their lives; usually because they refuse to acknowledge His instruction.
I am not saying that we have arrived, nor am I saying that we are perfect representations of what a Christian marriage should look like. We have struggles just like everyone else.
I will say however, that we are surrounded by people who say they love Jesus, and their lives are falling apart at the seams simply because they refuse to obey Him. That is where our problems differ. She and I typically disagree on the details of how to fulfill a commandment in the Torah - not whether we should acknowledge it in the first place.

I had a conversation this week with a person who told me that they actually feel sorry for my oldest child because I have taught him not to eat pork, or any of the other animals God tells us not to eat in the Torah. This person, who is a Christian, told me that there is no reason that a kid should feel guilty for "eating a big hunk of Spam if he craves it – it is sad; he should know that that is OK, and that he is covered by grace.”

Let’s look at this for a moment.

Number one, I will never apologize for agreeing with God’s word, which clearly tells us that eating swine flesh is an “abomination.” God’s food laws in the Torah are never changing, just like the rest of God’s word.

Though my son is covered by God’s grace, I believe that it would be a grave mistake to teach him that it is OK to break God’s commandments because we are “covered by grace.”

I believe that grace is a gift; not a garment used to cover my vices.

This typifies the problem with modern Christianity in America; not only is there is no shame in our actions, but we have transposed our will over that of God Almighty’s. American Christianity has reduced the commandments of God into categories of degree. If we, as Americans don’t think a certain commandment is wrong, it becomes acceptable among Christians to break that commandment. This goes for mainstream topics as well as “Torah related” commands. For example, there is a growing number of Christians who believe it is wrong to spank their children, and just as many who believe they are not supposed to talk about Jesus in public. We have openly gay ministers! Meanwhile, you can hear the latest dirty joke from your “Christian brother,” go to the river boat casino, or even support abortion, and never be confronted by other believers. It has become wrong to call out your brother, even in love.

We, as believers are in no position to allocate God’s commandments to greater and lesser degrees; that is, as long as the commandment starts with “Do not” “you shall not” “don’t” or “Think not.” Jesus tells us the two most important commandments, and guess what… both are fulfilled by “obeying God and keeping His commandments.”

I say all of that to say this:

Mainstream Christians typically believe that it is silly to think that eating bacon is a sin. I submit to you today the fact that if Jesus believed that this was a silly commandment, and refused to obey it, we would all be lost in our sins, still seeking a savior. Thank God He was obedient, even unto death.

Let that sink in, Christian… if Jesus had eaten just one pork sandwich, one slice of bacon, a single shrimp, crab leg, lobster tail or alligator tail, we all would die in our sins because he would be DISQUALIFIED FROM BEING OUR SAVIOR. The Torah tells us not to eat those things, thus making it a commandment. “Do not eat” is every bit as serious as “Do not kill” – not because they are equally bad, but because they are prefaced with “Do not.”

It is NOT a silly topic, and we, as believers should never take any of God’s commandments lightly.

“Do not” still means “do not,” regardless of what is written after it.

Mangdiddles

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