Prison weekly Oct 30th 2004

Va-Yera For the week of October 30, 2004 / 15 Heshvan 5765 Torah: Bereshit / Genesis 18:1 - 22:24 Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:1-37 The Impossible Hope "So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, 'After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?'" (Bereshit / Genesis 18:12). Most of this section of Bereshit (Genesis) focuses on Abraham's interactions with God. As mentioned last week, Abraham is our prime example of a person of faith. In this week's parsha (Torah reading portion), we get a glimpse of Abraham's wife, Sarah, and the challenge she faced to accept the reality of what God was seeking to do in their lives. Abraham and Sarah receive a visit from three personalities. These three come to Abraham and Sarah to confirm God's promise of a son, who would be born to them the following year. As they speak to Abraham, Sarah overhears what they are saying. From her reaction it appears that either this is the first time she is hearing this, or she really didn't believe it when she heard it before. Whether or not this was fresh news to her, her reaction gives the impression that she had a lot of difficulty accepting that she, at this time in her life, could actually bear a child. When Abraham was first told about this in chapter 17, he also laughed, but the context indicates that his reaction was one of being overwhelmed by the promise. Sarah, on the other hand, appears to be ashamed of her laughter, thus revealing that she really didn't believe. Can we fault her for this? The Torah clearly states in the verse immediately preceding the one quoted earlier, "Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing" (Bereshit / Genesis 18:12). Sarah was past the age of childbearing. Therefore it was impossible for her to have a baby. Yet God was saying otherwise. Her reaction was normal. She thought the promise was ridiculous, which as far as the natural world is concerned, the miraculous always is. Could you imagine being Sarah in this situation - an elderly woman pregnant, walking around with a big tummy? That would be ridiculous all right. It might be embarrassing. You need to laugh or cry. But however you react, it's pretty wild. The craziness of this situation is compounded by the fact that she had never borne a child before. I am aware that this really doesn't make a difference, seeing that she was past the age to bear children anyway, but somehow the concept of a barren women becoming pregnant at age 90 is even harder to accept. There is more to Sarah's reaction than her finding this hard to believe. Note how she refers to the possibility (or impossibility) of her getting pregnant: "…will I now have this pleasure?" This appears to be a hint that having a baby was something she always wanted. Those of you who have had difficulty having children understand her longing. Year after year of her long life went by with her anticipating the possibility of having a child, until the day came when she finally accepted that it would never happen. Then suddenly, when all hope of this desire ever being fulfilled is completely gone, God says that her dream will come true. We should not be surprised, therefore, when God speaks to us in a similar way. A desire is birthed in our hearts, but then for reasons unknown to us, we come to a place where every hope of its fulfillment is dashed to pieces. Then some time later, God comes to us. He tells us that our dream will come true after all. This is not to say that every dream and every desire of our hearts must die before they come to pass. Sometimes it happens in the way it did for Sarah; sometimes not. But when it does, don't be surprised. Just because a dream or desire becomes impossible, that doesn't mean that all hope is gone. With God we can still hope for the impossible . TorahBytes Vayeira (Genesis 18-22) Family Parsha Vayeira 5765 Hospitality - taking in and taking care of guests - is a timeless Jewish value. Abraham, the first Jew, even as an old man would literally run after wayfarers and bring them to his home. Throughout history, we, his descendents, have followed in his kindly ways. The Torah teaches us the great value of being kind to strangers and doing all we can to help them feel at home. In our story, a kid gets taken in."THE BEST HOTEL IN TOWN" Gary Benson read the sign again and again, and just couldn't believe it. How could it be? He had planned for this trip down to the last detail. It was his first big trip alone out of town - as a delegate to the national Jewish Student Leadership Conference for World Improvement. He had carefully packed everything he needed, and taken all the right busses. The only problem was that he had somehow made a big mistake about the dates of the conference, and arrived a day too early. This meant not only was there no conference happening, but that the dormitory where all the delegates would be staying and eating was closed tight as a drum, and now he was stuck alone - a stranger in a strange, new city, with no place to stay! Now what? With no other choice, Gary walked into the big, but now nearly empty Community Center building where the conference was going to be held the next day, to call his parents on the lobby pay phone. They were very concerned and told him to try to find a nearby hotel to spend the night and charge it to their credit card. He had barely hung up the phone when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see a friendly looking kid about his age, wearing a yarmulke. "I'm sorry to butt in," he said, "but I overheard you saying on the phone that you needed a place to stay." Gary glumly nodded. "Yeah," he sighed. "I came for the conference, and I'm kind of stuck. Do you know of a good hotel around here where I can crash for the night, and maybe a decent restaurant too?" "A hotel? Hmm, just hang on a minute and let me make a quick call home." The boy pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, and after a brief whispered conversation, turned to Gary with a big smile. "Just follow me and I'll take you to the best place in town." Gary and the other boy, whose name was Aaron, jumped in a taxi, and after a few minutes, the cab stopped in front of a plain-looking apartment building. Gary didn't get it. "Hey, where are we? This place doesn't look like a hotel to me." "I'm be happy to take you to a hotel if that's what you want," Aaron said, "but it's still early, and if you don't mind, let's just pop into my place for a bit." Gary shrugged. Aaron seemed like an okay guy - it even turned out that he knew one of Gary's cousins - and he didn't have anything else to do, so why not? They walked into Aaron's nice, but not fancy apartment, where his mom greeted the boys. "Sit down. You're just in time for lunch," she said, smiling, and invited them to sit down to a steaming hot meal waiting on the kitchen table. The food looked and smelled delicious, and Gary was pretty hungry after his long trip. But he had planned to eat at a restaurant and didn't want to put these nice people out. Aaron assured him it was really fine and since he was eating anyway, Gary might as well join him. The guys ate heartily, and then Aaron showed Gary his room. It turned out they were both into tropical fish and spent a lot of time looking at Aaron's aquarium. Gary was having a great time, but noticed on his watch it was getting late. "Aaron, it's been great, but I think I better head for the hotel, so if you don't mind..." Just then Leah, Aaron's sister, burst in. "Okay, the guest room is all ready!" Guest room? What was she talking about? But before he could ask, Aaron led him to a small but neat room and pointed to the cozy made bed. "Here's where you'll be sleeping tonight, Gary. I hope it will be comfortable." What did he mean? They were gonna let him, a stranger, stay overnight at their house? "Um, no, no thanks. I can't let you do that for me. Let's just call the hotel, and..." "No, really. We have guests all the time," assured Aaron. "All the time? You mean this is some kind of bed and breakfast, or something?" Aaron stifled a giggle, "Oh, yeah, I guess you could say that. Since the time of our great, great-grandfather, Abraham, who always searched for guests, a Jewish house has always been a bed and breakfast - lunch and dinner too - for whoever needs a warm meal and a soft bed. And that, my friend, includes you." Gary was amazed. It actually did seem better than some lonely hotel, but then he remembered something. "But Aaron, I have a problem. I don't have much cash, only a credit card. Can I pay you with that?" Aaron burst out laughing. "You can't pay us with anything. Everything's free! Hospitality is a mitzvah - it's our pleasure to follow in our forefather's footsteps." Gary was blown away by Aaron and his family's kindness to a stranger. He knew that tomorrow, when he would finally make it to the conference on world improvement, he would have an old-new suggestion - old-fashioned Jewish hospitality - to add to the list of great ways to make the world a better place. Aish.com Mission Updates: Greetings from Pastor Dan, A few words to our new members of PNS. We have had many join PNS in the last week so I had better say a few things...The Prophetic News Service is my daily/nightly research. I post many things...NOT all do I agree with, but feel they are something I might use later in our mail out newsletter or something that others might want to read and make the choice themselves if they wish to use it or believe it. By showing articles that are from other points of view than mine helps keep this not being a one sided news list...If you have something you wish posted send it to me and I may or may not post it... This is also how we keep in touch with those who support our various Missions. One of which is of course the Wichita Mission to the homeless and poor. We feed, cloth, give first-aid, counsel, pray for, care for, hundreds monthly from our little storefront mission/church about 60 miles away in Wichita. I drive my full size van ( yes gas is always a real need, roughly we spend $400 to $500 month for gas,oil etc trip expenses ) twice a week over to Wichita, where we serve a Brunch and then a 4:30 meal in our little storefront. I also go out under bridges etc to find the people or just give them rides to various places.....we have been doing this since July of 2000 and in this building since Nov. 2000. Right now we are at a crisis as the new landlord has told us to keep the people inside while they are there. Impossible they come and go all day. Normal day from 1 PM till 6 PM 70 or more people have came and went...So we are praying the Lord would either change the landlord or help us find another building. We pay $375 a month plus bills and that is all we can afford.....keep us in your prayers please. We just got 60 blankets today...Praise the Lord the agencies in Wichita are not giving blankets out this year as they claim they have none..They get them free from the military every year but this year they have none....you guess...really what is going on they re trying to make it harder and harder for the homeless. Unlike other big cities Wichita has chosen to try and ignore or run off the homeless. They think they are unless eaters, throw away people. So many are the product of a very bad economy form the aircraft lay off after 9/11.....I would guess tomorrow ( Tuesdays and Fridays are my days ) most of the blankets will go as they have been waiting on them. We are in need of coats very badly. Yes we have women and children coming in also! So these Mission updates come out a couple of times a week...sometimes more. The Radio is another out reach of warning the Body of Messiah and announcing the return of Messiah. if you have someone you would like to see us have on radio send us their web address or a link etc. Pray about supporting the radio. We are paid up for the first 4 weeks of November so now is the time to look to pay at least another month. Cost is $190 monthly....or rather for 4 weeks....Glad to have new members....In Yeshua Messiah's Love and Service, Pastor Dan Shalom In Yeshua Our Messiah, The Mission was crowded Friday at dinner time when the children and I arrived the place was packed. Kathy made six dozen egg-n- cheese sandwiches served with many sweets Pastor Dan passed out an dozens of donuts, coffee, ice tea and ice water through out the day. For dinner I made chili that Kathy put together and our daughter April baked potatoes. We served the chili over the potatoes topped with cheese and bread-n-butter it was very good. The bills are coming in and the account is busted, Dan has half of what he needs for the gas on Tuesday. The phone is close to 46.00, water around 21, electric is 110.00, the gas not in yet should be there this week, Newsletter is due to go out next week 190 to print 120 to mail the mailing list just keeps growing. The Radio is paid through November but it would be nice to pay another four weeks up on that which is 190 very well worth the price as we are on-line.A saint sent in 250 for the food account, 150 for Bibles, 75 for the prison ministry, and 25 for gas. I bought 14 big print Bibles Friday at Sam's Club. These are nice Bibles easy to read they cost 9.97 each and are a Blessing for them who receive them. One will be sent to a prisoner who has been waiting for awhile I will mail it tomorrow. One was given to our web master who attended service on Friday for he was in need of a KJV Bible. The prison funding will buy a much needed ink cartridge which is a BIG BLESSING as the one in the printer is about outta ink. The remaining will go to buy stamps to mail the Prison Weekly. The gas was put into my van on Friday. The food account money will be put into that account in the morning which was also a Blessing as it was until this came in down to around 20 again. I did get to stock up a little on some meat from the last donation but never did get any sales everything just keeps going UP. Now left in the freezer is 70 pounds of chicken and 40 pounds of hamburger. (depending on what I make this is 8-11 meals which is a little over a month for the Mission)Oh yeal I ordered 600 pounds of foods 200 pounds of pasta, 100 pounds carrots,100 pounds green beans, 100 pounds fruits and 100 pounds of surprise me??? We get this from another ministry for 15 cents a pound. We had a church donate a couple boxes of the red hard back KJV Bibles however they are hard to read due to the very small print but they will be given out as I know Yahweh will send some people who will have no problem reading the small print. The prison weekly is growing, I get letters of thanks from most all on the list and they tell me that these Torah lessons are a great help for them in their walk and in drawing them closer to Yeshua who will lead them to our Father. Some say they are helping to rid themselves of the worldly teaching taught to them by men. I am inspired by these letters an I Thank Yahweh for allowing me to minister to them through His Torah and the US mail service. Please hold each and every one of these prisoners up that they will walk with Yeshua and become ministers of His Words to bring those around them to Salvation. More on the Mission next Update Shalom sisterlinda Messiah's Branch Last weeks Answer: Revelation 7:1-8 1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. Find This Passage: And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

Shalom sisterlinda Messiah's Branch
Mark 9:23,10:27

Prison weekly Oct 23rd 2004

Lekh Lekha For the week of October 23, 2004 / 8 Heshvan 5765 Torah: Bereshit / Genesis 12:1 - 17:27 Haftarah: Isaiah 40:27 - 41:16 The Risk of Faith "The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you'" (Bereshit / Genesis 12:1). The first book of the Bible is commonly referred to as "Genesis," which mean "beginnings." The Hebrew name is "Bereshit" which is the first word of the book: translated into English it is "in the beginning." Genesis is a book of beginnings. This week's portion is about the beginning of the unfolding of God's plan to resolve the predicament our first parents got us into. By God's right he could have completely destroyed the human race through the Flood of Noah's day, but he didn't. He chose rather to restart the human project by preserving Noah and his family. It would be some time later that God would begin to reveal his plan of salvation by calling Abram (whose name God would eventually change to Abraham). Throughout history there have been a great number of attempts to significantly change our quality of life on earth. These causes or movements have had a wide range of effects on our existence. But only what we may call the "Abraham movement" is God's true solution for the human predicament. Perhaps the most notable quality of Abraham's life is that of faith. From the start of his relationship with God his trusting in God was central. (Note that the words "faith" and "trust" in the original languages of the Bible are the same. Therefore I use them interchangeably.) There is something found in this first interaction between Abraham and God that is foundational for any life which desires to truly know God. Many years later the prophet Habakkuk would say, "the righteous will live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). Faith is not a religious commitment, nor is it something that is simply thought inside our minds. Faith is a way of life. Faith was the way of Abraham's life. And the only way to truly live life is to trust in God in the way Abraham did. Look how the life of faith begins for Abraham. He was to leave what was familiar and journey into the unknown. It is important to understand that it wasn't the risk factor itself that set Abraham apart, but that he took this risk in obedience to God's directive. At the same time, if we study faith in the lives of other Bible characters we would see that God would often lead them into the unexpected, the unfamiliar, and the unknown. Moses, for example, was called to speak on God's behalf, both to his own people and to the King of Egypt, after running for his life and living as a shepherd in the wilderness for forty years. He was required to trust God for miraculous signs and wonders of the magnitude that he himself had never experienced before. David too was a shepherd, called to be King, having not grown up in a royal family. Eliyahu HaNavi (English: Elijah the Prophet) predicted such incredible dramatic things that if God had not come through for him, he would have been left looking like an idiot. Everything in us resists the call into the risky places of faith. We would rather rely upon our own abilities and knowledge, preferring to remain in the familiar surroundings we are used to, where we think we know how to handle life. Yet God regularly calls us away from the familiar situations and to those places like Abraham where we must rely upon God. I wonder how many of us have resisted the call to be part of the Abraham movement, because we refused to let go of those familiar things in which we find security. Is it possible that as a result we could be missing the opportunity to know God's blessing and to be a blessing like Abraham? It all depends on what God is saying to you. TorahBytes Lech Lecha (Genesis 12-17) Family Parsha Lech Lecha 5765 Being part of a group is great, but it can also drag us down if there is some negative behavior in the group and we feel pressured to go along. In this week's portion, God instructs Abraham to pull himself away from the negative behaviors of the people around him and be his own man. We can learn from Abraham to stick to our values of right and wrong even if those around us try to get us to act otherwise. In our story, a kid struggles not to get swept along by the crowd. "REBEL WITH A CAUSE" Yuchh! Cindy ran coughing to the washroom sink and felt like she had just swallowed an ashtray. How could anyone stand putting these things in their mouths? Yet that was just what all the kids in the crowd Cindy had been hanging out with lately were doing, and it kind of made her feel like she had to start smoking too. She liked being part of tight group of friends since it made her feel accepted and not alone. But being part of them meant doing what they did, even if some of the things they were into made Cindy uncomfortable. For a while she had been able to avoid the smoking issue by saying she wasn't in the mood. But today during mid-morning break, Cindy felt stuck. Vicky, one of the group's leaders of the group which called itself 'the Rebels', handed her the cigarette she was smoking and told her to take a puff. Cindy felt she really didn't have a choice and took a few puffs and now she felt totally nauseous, her throat was burning and she had to get herself together before the next class started in a just a few minutes. The girl quickly popped a couple of breath mints into her mouth to kill the taste, and looking into the mirror over the sink, tried her best to make herself look presentable for class, although it would be a challenge to do anything with her spiky, gelled-up hair. She felt the hairstyle made her look ridiculous, but it was what all the kids were wearing, and she had gone along too - just because. History had never been one of Cindy's favorite subjects. She was much more into thinking about the present, if not the future, but the way Mrs. Travis, their teacher taught it, it kind of seemed real. So despite her head still spinning from the disgusting cigarette smoke, Cindy tried to tune in. "Abraham, the father of the Jewish people was a big rebel," the teacher remarked. A rebel? That certainly wasn't the picture of Abraham Cindy had in her mind. The teacher continued. "His ideas put him on one side of the river, while the whole world stood on the other. But no matter how they pressured him to be like them, no matter what they said, did, or even threatened, Abraham wouldn't budge from what he knew was right. Nobody likes to stand alone, but to Abraham, being true to himself - and to God - was worth the price. He was a rebel to do what was right." Wow, thought Cindy. She could really relate to being pressured. She pushed back the hair off her forehead and cringed as the sticky gel gooed up her hand. Cindy hurried to get ready to go to lunch. She felt much more normal now that she had shampooed all that gunk out of her hair after her gym class. What a shame, she thought, that she would have to put it right back in. She reached for the tube of hair gel on her locker shelf and was about to give it a squeeze when for some reason the morning's History class, and what the teacher had said, popped into her mind. That Abraham must have had a lot of guts to do what he did and not just go along with things because everyone else did. I like my hair the way it is, what do I need this stuff for? She tucked the tube, unused, back into her locker. Although she usually gulped down her sandwich in just a few bites so she could run out to the playground where her crowd was waiting, today Cindy found herself trying to eat as slowly as possible. She wasn't looking forward to how the kids were going to react to her new look. Soon enough she finished eating and - taking a deep breath - she stood up and went to face the crowd. Cindy breathed a sigh of relief when no one said anything about her hair, or even seemed to notice. Maybe this wasn't going to be so hard after all. But she had spoken too soon, because right then Vicky and a few other kids were walking towards her, all smoking and holding a pack of cigarettes. "Hey Cindy," said Vicky, "we're all grabbing a smoke before class, and I'm sure you'd want to join the crowd." Cindy felt that everyone was looking at her and waiting for her to light up. The pressure was huge. She started to reach for the pack even though she knew smoking was a terrible thing to do. (Her dad was a doctor and he often came home with stories of someone who had checked into the hospital, or worse, checked out of the hospital and into the cemetery because of smoking.) But how could she just stand alone? Stand alone! she thought to herself. Wasn't that just what Abraham did? This was not going to be easy, but neither would be messing up her body with those disgusting and deadly cigarettes! She pulled back her hand. "No thanks Vicky, I don't smoke," she said, hoping that would be the end of it. But Vicky wouldn't let her off so easily. "What's the matter, you're not part of the Rebels any more?" Cindy thought fast, and smiled. "Sure I am, but even the Rebels need a rebel, don't they?" The kids laughed and the tension broke. Cindy was relieved, glad she had taken a stand. From that day on, she started hanging around less and less with the smoking crowd - they were just pushing her in a direction she didn't want to go. Soon enough she made some great new friendships with kids who shared her values, and was happy she had had the guts, like Abraham, to be a real rebel, that is a rebel to do what she knew was right. Aish.com Mission UpDates:Greetings Saints in His Perfect Peace, My day started off with running late. You see they are working on the main highway so I take the short cuts..Yeh right, yuk yuk. Well today I had to go a little different because of the rain we been having. I cut over to first Street ignoring the sign that it was closed 7 miles down the road. My spirit said just turn back but I would not listen, would not listen to the signs....So I ended up taking longer than if I went through the road constructions! These things are a lesson had I listened to the signs in front of my face and paid a attention to the Holy Spirit I would have not go into the many detours I had to take, and that is it is in life also. We must listen to our Lord even in what seems the smallest things! Or we will never make it when the trouble comes... When I got to the Mission after picking up our help Richard and Kathy...There of course were people waiting...This was like 1 PM....I unloaded and had to run an errand but by the time I got back we were packed! Mind you we are a little store-front mission. We have 40 chairs and if they are full we are over crowded...and we had many over the number of chairs. That was before I even went to the Library to pick up people...The Homeless and poor know I pick them up at 2 PM there. I saw right off I would not have to do a bridge check as most of the bridge guys were there. Then I had to go pick up a box of clothing, a few odds and ends. Then round up a truck and go back and get a TV donated. Got the TV Back and found out later it was blown up... People just wanted us to pick their trash I guess.... I had people who needed a ride a few places so I left the packed house with Richard in control.....I called him on my way back finding out that the lady next door had called the law because of two many hanging out in front of her place...Which is not true we have them go the other way around the side of the building. She wants us out as she cannot stand homeless. After trying to get us kicked out with the old landlord and the police she gave up ....for a season. Now we have a new landlord and she again is trying to get us kicked out to the point of lying to the Police. The Police told Richard when they came out they had complaints from the last three days of all the homeless. Richard said that's Funny it Says right on the door we are only open Tuesdays and Fridays! Anyway. We need your prayers. We cannot afford higher rent as $375 a month is just all I know I can pay no matter what! We need a larger place with a real kitchen anyway and not next to any businesses! We looked for along time to find this place. We really need an old warehouse something people could pick up for around $40,000 or $50,000 maybe even lower than that! I have seen some go for as little as $25,000. Do I have the money NO! But the Lord owns everything. Anyway I am going to look around for a building to rent for the same rent or see if it's the Lord's will to buy one. But I do really think it is time we looked for another place.......Or Pray the Lord changes Her heart. After last time when the last landlord told her not to bother us and the Police would not do anything to us as we are not doing anything she left us alone about a year....We were here two years or more before her. As for the woman next door the people were shocked at the 4:30 PM meal I asked the Lord to bless her with much business.......and help her with any problems she has. Yes today we more than likely ran 70 or more people through in the course of the day... So many needing coats, blankets, hygiene products...pray for them..... Last weeks program is online now.....link below.. America's Last Days, with David Eells Bills are coming due and of course with high gas prices we need donations. Pray about helping with this work of the Lord. We had a family bring 80 1/4 pound hamburger patties, 80 beef hot dawgs and buns. So Friday guess what's for dinner! They will love it, oh yes also cake! Today was chicken and Noodles, green beans with carrots and potatoes, and apricots, bread and butter. The Lord made just enough as always...... Today a man came to me and said he had a prayer answered we had prayed about with him. He got his disability raised up ( Military ) so he will be able to get out of the street. He also said that who I used to be ( an out law Biker the worst of the worst, but that man is dead) made him realize that if The Lord could change me into what I was now working for the Lord, loving the people, caring for them, Then HE knew there was life for him. He thanked me and said he was giving to the Lord through us when he got his back pay...he said we just do so much for everyone...al credit goes to the Lord. The Point is your old live becomes your testimony.........Saints this whole ministry is by Faith, only by Faith could we go on! Okay now's the place Pastor Dan list's the needs for those led to help! Needed things Prayers gas money donations food donations Regular monthly supporters money for airtime Clothing Men's clothing blankets ! coats backpacks hats gloves medical supplies Laptop for mission work, I need a medium to take information back and forth to the mission And of course MORE Bibles, King James Versions or Messianic Strongs concordances, the older the better..but will take all..I need one on CD the older the Better but will take anything... The FATHER bless thee and keep thee; The FATHER make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The FATHER lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee shalom. (peace) Bemidbar (Numbers) 6:24-26 In Yeshua's Name, Bro. Dan, Pastor of Messiah's Branch Shalom In Yeshua our Messiah, Friday Kathy made seven dozen egg-n-cheese sandwhiches served with dozens of donuts through out the day coffee, ice tea and ice water. Kathy also fried 55 hamburgers and boiled 69 hot beef dawgs that were donated as well as the cakes for this meal. Thanks to the saints who provided everything. We served them with BBQ beans, cole slaw and chocolate marble cake. We gave our needs minister Sarina her baby shower Saturday afternoon she is due November 15th however she is dilated to two now. PRAISE YAHWEH The bills are coming in so please pray about supporting the Mission all we ask is that you pray about it. The internet is 19:95, phone right around 50, water 20.58, gas and electric should be there either Tuesday or Friday. We need BLANKETS , lg,xlg,xxlg mens coats, stocking hats, mittens, warm socks, boxers etc.........Thanks to everyone who has helped these works Keep us in Prayer more next update:Shalom sisterlinda Messiah's Branch Mark 9:23,10:27 Last Weeks answer:Acts 7:22-2522 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. Find This Passage:And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

Shalom sisterlinda Messiah's Branch
Mark 9:23,10:27

Prison weekly Oct 16th

No'ah For the week of October 16, 2004 / 1 Heshvan 5765 Torah: Bereshit / Genesis 6:9 - 11:32; Bemidbar / Numbers 28:9-15 Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1-24 Catastrophes "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month - on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights" (Bereshit / Genesis 7:11,12). The story of the Great Flood is a very important event for scientists who believe the Bible. For them, the flood explains many of the things that other scientists claim could only have happened over long periods of time. While geologists see evidence in the earth of great dramatic changes, observation cannot determine how long it took for these changes to take place. The nature of these changes leaves us with two possibilities. Either they happened over a long period of time, or they were caused by a catastrophe or a series of catastrophes. If we accept the validity of the Scriptures, it is very likely that instead of a long slow process of change over millions of years, it was the catastrophic flood that put the earth in the state in which we find it today. It is important to note that unlike the way this story is told in numerous children's picture books, what happened was not simply a major downpour for 40 days and nights, but as we read at the start, "all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened." This suggests an unleashing of water far greater than a very bad rain storm. Mount St. Helens has been in the news lately after many years. In 1980 half the mountain blew up due to a volcanic eruption. This provided scientists with a modern, first-hand look at the effects of a catastrophe, demonstrating that one catastrophe can do in a few minutes what would normally happen over a very long period of time. Recently we have also seen the catastrophic effects of an unusual number of hurricanes. Towns and villages in some of the most beautiful places on earth were devastated. Thousands of people have died, houses and possessions destroyed. Losses are in the billions of dollars. Those of us not directly affected may have difficulty imagining what it would be like to have our lives either destroyed or radically changed in a moment or within a few hours. A couple of months ago the house of some friends of ours was burnt to the ground. They barely got out with their lives.. They lost just about everything. When we got the tail end of Hurricane Francis a few weeks ago, our city experienced double the record of rain. We didn't expect that we would be facing anything like what others had in the Caribbean or Florida. Most of us didn't. But about 44 homes in one neighborhood, due to a malfunctioning sewer pump, had their basements flooded - some knee deep with raw sewage. Every single thing the sewage touched had to be disposed of. It will take a long time, if ever, for that neighborhood to recover from this catastrophe. Anyone who has any understanding of life knows that catastrophes can come upon us at any time. Yet it seems that most people live much like the people of Noah's day, thinking that no serious danger would ever befall them. Catastrophes cause us to see how fragile and vulnerable we really are. Through them we learn that nothing in this life is indestructible or predictable. How many of us find our security for tomorrow based on the things we possess today - most of which carry no guaranty of being there for us tomorrow. The story of Noah not only reminds us that the world as we know it can be transformed in an instant, but that our only true and lasting security in the whole universe is found in the one who rules over all creation. If we put our trust in him, he will see us through even the most devastating catastrophes. Torah Bytes Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32) Family Parsha Noach 5765 Even though we may realize the value of keeping ourselves and our environment clean, we may not realize that besides taking showers and not littering there is another important way to keep clean - using clean speech. Using foul language is like dumping garbage on ourselves and the people around us. In this week's portion, the Torah, which always says things in the fewest words possible, goes out of the way to use extra words in order to say things in a clean way, (Gen.7:8) in order to teach us the lesson that when it comes to speaking - the rule is "keep it clean." In our story, a kid learns that keeping clean takes more than soap."THE NEAT FREAK" Our mom likes to joke that when Barry was a baby he changed his own diapers before she could even get to him. The truth is, if you knew my brother, you wouldn't be so sure she was joking. I mean there are neat freaks - guys who took being neat and clean seriously - but my brother Barry takes the cake. First of all, we all knew that if we were gonna go out somewhere we had to tell Barry at least a half an hour in advance, because there was no way he would leave the house on any kind of trip without first taking a shower and changing into freshly washed and ironed clothes. This, of course was besides the 'regular' showers he would take everyday. And his room - forget about it. Now I'm pretty neat and my room is never a mess, but compared to Barry's it looks like a hurricane hit it. You could take a white glove and go over all his shelves, and the glove would come out whiter than when you started! All us kids knew that going into Barry's room meant taking off our shoes, or at least wiping our feet on the mat in front of his door, and if we ever forgot, boy would he remind us in a way that made it hard to ever forget again. Let's just say that cursing us out would be putting it mildly. But the absolute worst thing to Barry, the thing he just could not stand, was if anyone littered or polluted the environment. If he ever saw us drop a gum wrapper or even worse, leave a soda can around he would go ballistic. Besides picking it up and handing it back to us, he used to jump into this whole lecture, or really a tirade, full of angry cursing and accusations about how we were destroying the whole planet with our carelessness, etc. Now the reason I say 'he used to' is because of the time someone said something to him that changed Barry's whole style of talking, hopefully forever. We were on a family trip with our cousins and we were all piled into the back couple of rows of Uncle Jack's minibus, while the adults sat in the front. We had brought plenty of snacks for the trip, and everyone was having a good time. That is, until our cousin Amy, who was sitting next to Barry, made the 'fatal mistake' of tossing her apple core out the window onto the side of the road. Now it was a quiet country road, and you could argue that an apple core thrown into the woods wouldn't do anything worse than maybe sprout a new apple tree, but Barry wouldn't hear of it - littering was littering. My sister and I knew what was coming, and braced as Barry's face turned that familiar shade red, and he began to lace into our hapless cousin. At first Amy seemed shocked. But then it was our turn to be shocked as she quickly regained her composure, looked Barry straight in the eye, and said, "I might have been wrong to litter, but it is nothing compared to the whole smelly garbage can you just dumped into the bus!" "What are you talking about, Amy?" Barry asked incredulously. "Listen to the way you're speaking. Your foul language is 'word pollution!'" I wanted to clap, but I held myself back. "Look Barry," she said, "it's wonderful to want to be clean and care about the environment, and you can use all the soap in the world and recycle until your face is blue, but until you learn how to clean up your speech and drop that foul language, you're sitting in the middle of a garbage truck and dragging everyone else down there with you." The look on Barry's face showed that he had gotten the message, a message we had all wanted to give him for a long time, and just never knew how. Barry's still a neat freak, but a lot more humble and quiet about it. Even if somebody messes up in front of him once in a while, he tries real hard to tell them about it in a way that's just as clean as the way he wants his world to be. Aish.com Mission Updates:
ABOUT THE PNS (PROPHETIC NEWS SERVICE) & Messiah's Branch Greetings Saints, The PNS list is my nightly, daily research into our times before the Return of Messiah! We do NOT AGREE with everything posted this is free research for you to use as you please as long as you do not charge for the information, Print, share etc. Sometimes there are many Posts sometimes not. We generally stop posting sometime on Thursday night and resume after dark on Sat night or Sunday.... We do believe that we are saved by grace as Messiah says you cannot earn your way to heaven. We also Believe that you must after being saved turn away form sin and "Sin No More"! We believe that All things are done by Faith, we believe the Lord speaks to all whom are born again, if they would just listen for His voice. We know we are in times that there are grave dangers for the whole world! We know that the Lord has had people all over the world stock up on things to help others in the coming time of trouble. Places that we know He will send saints to in the time of Trouble. Each should hear from the Lord and NO ONE ELSE on if they should stock things up or if the Lord says not to. Each case is different. Hear from The Holy Spirit and Not Pastor Dan.....Let HIM guide you. Confirm all Things By Your Bible and the Holy Spirit, if the two do not match something is wrong. We are a ministry that most of our support for our work as missionaries to the poor and homeless in Wichita come from PNS, the radio, and our other various lists. So you will see the needs of the ministry posted as we are led to. People from all over the World and the USA support this work of love.. read Matthew 25....These lists are how they know what is going on...We have been on the net since 1999 with PNS. Messiah's Branch Wichita Mission has been going since June 2000 and in the same small storefront since November 2000. We have did a worldwide mailout newsletter for 114 months. In Yeshua's love and Service, His Perfect Peace ( Shalom ) Pastor Dan We believe Works are natural to a saved man ...James 2:1 1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Shalom In Yeshua Our Messiah, Friday we served tuna salad sandwiches, potato salad, macaroni salad, cole slaw, Tostitos chip and sauce, a few pieces of chicken, a few muffins, some vegetables and dip and a few pieces of cake for brunch along with many donuts, hot coffee, ice tea and ice water. Most of the above was donated left overs from a Succot dinner. When we arrived we had a stove PRAISE Yahweh, I had Daniel plug it in and nothing worked......when Pastor Dan came back from picking up the people I told him this stove doesn't work either. As he was leaving to run an errand he ran into an electrician in the parking lot that told him it had to be the power cord or the breaker box. They checked the breaker box and that was our problem it cost 15 dollars to fix but was to late for the other stove it was already taken to a junk man. I made hamburger gravy we served with bread and eggs for dinner all was eaten. We also had carrot cake to celebrated Ed's birthday. He is one of the volunteers at the Mission. The bills are coming in so pray about supporting these works. Please pray for granma she has to go for a blood transfusion Monday and she is not doing well at all. We are desperate for blankets and men's coats lg, xlg or larger. Send stamps I always need them I mail to prisons weekly. Pray about what you can do to help we need you all. Have a Blessed week more on the Mission next update: Last weeks answer: Luke 7:1-17 1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. 11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.Find this Passage: And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. Shalom sisterlinda Messiah's Branch Mark 9:23,10:27

Prison weekly Oct 9th

Bereshit For the week of October 9, 2004 / 24 Tishri 5765 Torah: Bereshit / Genesis 1:1 - 6:8 Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5 - 43:11 Something from Nothing "This is what God the LORD says - he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 'I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles'" (Isaiah 42:5,6). This week begins the yearly cycle of the reading of the Torah, the five books of Moses, which is also the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Each week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, a new portion (Hebrew: parsha) of about five chapters is read. On Saturday - the Sabbath - there is also an additional reading from one of the other books of the Bible. This additional reading is called the Haftarah, which while sounds like half a Torah, actually means "completion." The various Haftarah readings were chosen because the ancient scholars found in them something relevant to the weekly Torah readings. The passages selected as the Haftarah readings are the same each year. This week's Haftarah was obviously chosen because of its reference to creation found in the first two chapters of the Bible. God as creator is fundamental to everything else that we learn about God in the Scriptures. The invisible, eternal and self-existent One brought all things into being with a word from nothing. God is not a simple concept that we aspire to, nor is he a human invention whom we can control. The physical world is not itself eternal. It did not create itself or develop itself by itself. Human beings are not the result of an evolutionary process. We are the special creation of a loving God, who made us in his own image, so that we might fulfill his purposes on earth. If we can accept that God is truly the creator of all things, if he has spoken the stars and planets into existence, is there anything he cannot do? What obstacles are there that can thwart his purposes? This being the case all we need to know is, not what God can do, but what he wants to do. This is one of the reasons for reading the Bible, for in its pages we discover the will of this creator God. Through the Scriptures we encounter the lives of many people who lived their lives believing in him. They are our examples of his reality, so that we too can relate to him properly. This week's Haftarah reading contains a promise – a promise from the creator God. In fact he bases this promise on his being creator. While we can trust any promise of God on his supreme and infinite creativity, he chose to emphasize this aspect of himself to impress upon the hearers of the message the absolute certainty of his ability to carry it through. Perhaps the importance or the seemingly impossibility of its fulfillment called for this emphasis. These words were spoken through the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God was saying through Isaiah that these people would one day have a transforming impact upon the nations of the world. Here we find one of the expressions of God's will for humankind – his desire to free us from oppression and suffering, from ignorance and sickness. Not only is it God's desire to transform the nations of the world, he has chosen his people to be the instruments of this transformation. As the story of the Bible unfolds we learn that the reality of God that was revealed to the people of Israel has been made available to anyone who turns to him through the Messiah. Those who believe in Yeshua become part of God's great plan of transformation. Maybe you don't think that your life is worth much. You might doubt that you are making any significant difference in the little part of the world in which you live. It is time to remember who God is and what he wants to do through you. He who brought the world into existence from nothing wants to bring transformation to the world through you. You might think of yourself as nothing. That's OK – God has been making fantastic things from nothing for a long time. TorahBytes Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8) Family Parsha Bereishit 5765 Parshat will be read on Simchat Torah, which is on Friday, October 8 outside of Israel, and Thursday, October 7 in Israel.Parshat Bereishit will be read on Shabbat (Saturday), October 9.Chag Somayach! When we think about the beginning of the world when everything was first created, it was so long ago that it can be hard to relate to. But really by just opening our eyes and noticing the wisdom and design of the natural world around us, we can feel like we are right there. This week's Torah Portion teaches about how God created the world, and everything in it - including us - with a master plan. By looking at all the amazing design in everything around us, we can feel connected to that plan and to Him. In our story, a trip to the zoo turns into a trip into the beginning of time."DESIGNER GENES" "Okay guys, have a good time. We meet back here at 3:00. Just remember to act in a way that nobody mistakes you for one of the exhibits," laughed the bus driver, as 35 very excited kids began piling off the bus at the zoo. After getting through the gate, the class was met by a tall fellow dressed like he was ready to go on a safari, who introduced himself as their guide. They all jumped on the 'zoo train' and were on their way. First stop was the small animal exhibit. Gary was kind of bored, waiting to get to the 'good stuff' like the lions and polar bears, but his buddy Josh seemed fascinated by every little reptile, amphibian, or marsupial. "Hey Gary, you've got to see this - it's just unbelievable!" Gary walked over hopeful to finally see something really cool, but was disappointed to see Josh gawking at what seemed to him to be an empty display. "Isn't it amazing?" Josh asked. "What's amazing? That they forgot to put anything in there?" asked Gary. "No, look closely," said Josh. "In the corner over there, that thing that looks like one of the rocks is really a curled up snake!" Gary stared for a minute and saw that his friend was right. But he still didn't understand what the big deal was. "Yeah, neat, I guess," he said, looking at his watch, wondering when they're going to finally get to the elephants. Josh continued: "The sign over there says that the snake's coloring helps him to sneak up on his food, and allows him to avoid the sight of the predatory birds that would want to eat him. It's like God designed him with his own camouflage uniform!" Gary just shrugged. As far as he was concerned, you've seen one snake, you've seen 'em all. As the class made its way from one display to the next, Josh was getting more and more excited, while Gary was getting more and more bored. At each stop Josh would go on and on about the incredible design while Gary kept his eye out for the snack bar. Eventually they reached the African savannah exhibit, and stood face to face, or actually face to knee, with a couple of huge giraffes calmly munching on some leaves at the top of a tree. "Can you believe it?" asked Josh, seemingly more amazed than ever. "You mean how tall they are?" asked Gary, finally beginning to perk up around the 'real' animals. "Yeah, but more than that. It's the way God designed them. The sign says that their ideal diet is the leaves on these tall trees. So look how God gave the giraffes a built-in ladder between their shoulders and their heads to be able to reach them!" Gary was getting a little tired of all this 'design' stuff. "Josh, aren't you getting a little carried away? I mean, it is sort of neat how it worked out that way, but if you ask me, it's really more of a coincidence than anything else, and so are all these other things you're getting so excited about." Josh looked like he was about to answer back, then changed his mind. Instead he just smiled a funny smile, and pulled a real fancy-looking camera out of his day pack to take a picture. "Now there is something to get excited about!" declared Gary. "I didn't know you got a new digital. What brand is it?" "Huh?" asked Josh. "What do you mean?" "What do you mean, 'what do I mean?' I'm asking you what brand of camera is it - you know, who made it?" Josh shook his head, and with an exaggerated blank look, said, 'Nobody made it. The other day it just sort of formed itself out of a pile of rocks in my backyard, so I just picked it up and started using it. Works pretty well, actually." "What are you talking about, man! If you don't want to talk about your camera, just say so. But don't try to tell me that a brand new, digital camera just sort of appeared out of nowhere!" "Why not? Didn't you just tell me that all of those amazing animals, each with their amazing designs, including a set of 'cameras' in their heads - called eyes - that are way more sophisticated than any manmade camera, just sort of happened by coincidence? So why not this?" "Yeah, but..." Gary stopped short. Like it or not, his friend had a point. "Of course this camera didn't 'just happen'," Josh said, "and neither did these giraffes. Anything with a design has to have a designer. That's exactly what turns me on so much about the zoo. To me it's one big art gallery of God's masterpieces and each new design I see in one of the animals is like seeing God's signature at the bottom of the painting. It's like God is creating the world again right in front of our eyes!" Just then, the guide called the class over to jump on the train to the next exhibit. Gary thought about what Josh had said and somehow the rest of the zoo trip was a lot more interesting. Aish.com Mission Updates:Greetings Saints in His Perfect Peace, Pray for the Mission. You see our electric stove went out and we need another and no funds to even go look for a used one. We had fried chicken on Friday boy was it good. the stove broke down about half way though mom cooking it. She managed with an electric skillet and hot water from the faucet for instant potatoes which I think we are out of now. We need blankets very badly the weather has changed and I have to keep saying sorry no blankets...It breaks my heart to send them away with none. We also need large coats....Someway by someone or somehow the Lord will provide. We also need donations to the food account. I Know it is about dry and the freezer is empty or maybe one bag of chicken. So we are about one meal I think from having no meat! We also need to stock up on canned vegetables now as we are very low. Of course mom can tell you more about these needs. yes of course the van is running much better but we still need gas donations.. Just pray about it and the Lord will tell you if he wants you to help. That is all we ask. Pictures I will tray an post some pictures of the Sukka our family build for this feast. I think it will be Wed. They are pretty good. Are you enjoying this feast and celebrating Messiah's Birth? The FATHER bless thee and keep thee;The FATHER make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;The FATHER lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee shalom. (peace)Bemidbar (Numbers) 6:24-26 In Yeshua's Name, Bro. Dan, Pastor of Messiah's Branch Shalom In Yeshua Our Messiah, Friday Kathy made two and a half dozen egg sandwiches as I started frying chicken for dinner. We had a real test of faith as the stove blew up while in the middle of frying the first ten pounds. I managed to fry thirty pounds of chicken make mashed potatoes and gravy heat navy beans and butter some bread all by the dead line of 4:30 OK we were five minutes late. We had a wonderful dinner Yahweh allowed us to prepare with one electric skillet and a micro wave for 30 people. We NEED Blankets and coats so Please pray about what you can do to help the people are outside because the shelters will not open till the temp drops below freezing. We need stamps and the bills are coming in also the food accout is down to eight dollars and we have 20 pounds of chicken in the freezer. We also need a MISSION STOVE This will be short this week as I'm on vacation and pushing for time more next update Shalom with Love sisterlinda Messiah's Branch Last weeks Answer:Isaiah 10:1-4 1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? 4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. Find This Passage:Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.Shalom with love sisterlinda Mark 9:23,10:27 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible but not with God: for with Him all things are possible.